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

Iran surely would — after the assassination of its supreme leader and much of its top security cabinet, together with the onslaught against its conventional arsenal — want a nuclear weapon more than ever. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 June 2026

All of these moments represent a public display of mourning for Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, after their tragic assassinations shocked the state last June. —Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 14 June 2026

That earlier photo had depicted Jackie Kennedy in the same situation, forced to care for her two children alone after her husband's assassination. —Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 13 June 2026

Haiti have not played a senior men’s international at home since 2021, after gang violence surged following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. —Reuters, NBC news, 13 June 2026

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