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 hazy track, produced by DZL and Omen, sees Cole rapping about the danger of AI and the assassination attempt on Donald Trump last year in Philadelphia. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025

Trump’s heroism, his supporters believe, was illustrated after a bullet grazed his ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July 2024. —Alex Hinton, The Conversation, 21 Feb. 2025

The dreamy tune, produced by DZL and Omen, finds Cole referencing the Donald Trump assassination attempt at a Phildelphia rally in June. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025

Bannon was a major influence on Trump’s winning 2016 campaign, while Musk has mostly come around to Trump within the past year, especially after the July 2024 assassination attempt against the president’s life. —Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 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