assassination

noun

as·​sas·​si·​na·​tion ə-ˌsa-sə-ˈnā-shən 

plural assassinations

1

: murder by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons : the act or an instance of assassinating someone (such as a prominent political leader)

the assassination of Abraham Lincoln

an assassination attempt

In medieval days, assassination by poisoning was common enough to alarm many a king, and protection was sought in the form of prayers, food tasters and science.

—The New York Times

2

: treacherous destruction of a person's reputation

character assassination

Examples of assassination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Representing a milestone in South American TV and politics, the screening of Lara: The Man Who Tried To Save Colombia in the capital Bogotá is a commemoration of the 41st anniversary of Lara’s assassination. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025

China’s contract with Ecuador came on the heels of instability with the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, ordered by the head of the Los Lobos gang, continuously high rates of violence, and environmental court cases or concerns that look to slow oil production. —Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

That was a week before Musk formally endorsed Donald Trump for president after an assassination attempt on the then-presumptive Republican nominee at a rally in Pennsylvania. —Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 29 Apr. 2025

Musk gained influence — and spent heavily — in 2024 race Musk — the world's richest person — endorsed Mr. Trump minutes after the then-presidential candidate's July 2024 assassination attempt. —Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assassination

• character assassination

Rhymes for assassination

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration