Simple Definition of assassin

from our Learner's Dictionary

assassin

noun

plural assassins
: a person who kills someone (such as a famous or important person) usually for political reasons or for money : a person who assassinates someone
He's a hired assassin. [=someone hired to kill someone]
the President's would-be assassin [=the person who tried to kill the President]
John Wilkes Booth was the assassin of Abraham Lincoln.

Cite this Entry

“Assassin.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/assassin. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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