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

Instead, prosecutors accuse him of knowing about the assassination conspiracy and not reporting it. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

For the purposes of the war at hand, the photo is, basically, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

The award is named after Justice Albie Sachs, a hero of the anti-apartheid movement who survived imprisonment, exile and an assassination attempt in the fight for equality in South Africa. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026

His assassination in April 1968, nearly five years after his appearance at the march, and his gradual canonization as the greatest of all the movement’s martyrs, have inextricably linked King and his iconic address with that day. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 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