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 separatist group emerged in 1958 in resistance to Franco but gained notoriety for assassinations, bombings, and kidnappings before announcing an end to its armed activity in 2011 and its dissolution in 2018. —News Desk, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026

Trump himself appeared to acknowledge a diffusion of power in Iran as a result of the American-Israeli assassination campaign. —David Brennan, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026

Mangione faces numerous charges at the state and federal level in connection with the December 2024 assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two from Minnesota who was in New York City for a work conference when a gunman snuck up behind him and opened fire. —Michael Ruiz , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026

Another cocktail, a version of the classic Boulevardier, is described as being inspired by the 1912 campaign speech in which Theodore Roosevelt continued speaking after he was shot in an assassination attempt. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 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