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

The fourth installment of the game follows the assassination of General Shepherd. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026

Charlie Kirk's family blamed Utah officials for failing to prevent the conservative activist's assassination at a state university, in a wrongful death notice announced Wednesday that presages a possible lawsuit. — CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

The indictment also ties the network to an assassination attempt in Lithuania, a Baltic country in Eastern Europe, and sabotage activities in other countries in the region. — Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

Trump did not offer any evidence to back up his extraordinary claim of the assassination attempt being part of a broader plot. — Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 15 Sep. 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