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

Paradise, a political thriller about the assassination of President Cal Bradford (James Marsden), is set in an underground bunker (called Paradise) following a mass extinction event. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025

Results also have 'encouraging' signs Experts cautioned against putting too much stock into the data, given that the survey was conducted only a few weeks after Kirk’s assassination. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025

The Georgian detailed some of the threats as pizza deliveries meant to dox her, pipe-bomb threats and assassination threats against her son. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

Nationwide, there have been several instances of people publicly celebrating or mocking Charlie Kirk's shocking assassination. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 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