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noun Uncommon

assassin

uh-SA-sihn
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Assassin (noun) means a person who kills someone deliberately, especially a public or political figure, often for money or political reasons. Example: “The assassin was hired to kill the senator.”

noun
1
A person who kills someone deliberately, especially a public or political figure, often for money or political reasons.
"The assassin was hired to kill the senator."
"Historians still debate whether the assassin acted alone."
"In the spy novel, the quiet assassin worked for a secret agency."
"What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr's cause can ever be stilled by an assassin’s bullet." — Robert F. Kennedy, On the Mindless Menace of Violence (1968)

How to use assassin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who kills a person on purpose, especially a well-known or powerful target.

Common mistake

An assassin specifically targets someone important or does the killing for hire or political motive; an assailant is simply anyone who attacks a person.

Easily confused with
assailant →
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Word forms

Plural
assassins
Third person singular
assassins
Past tense
assassined
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ was hired to kill the senator.

Etymology

Traced to Arabic terms linked to a medieval sect and, in popular legend, to hashish users — the word passed into English through French and Italian.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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hitman killer assassinator bravo

Related words

excellent killer congratulations ninja murderer bravo ole slayer

Frequently asked questions

What does “assassin” mean?
The word “assassin” means a person who kills someone deliberately, especially a public or political figure, often for money or political reasons. In plain terms, someone who kills a person on purpose, especially a well-known or powerful target.
How do you pronounce “assassin”?
“Assassin” is pronounced uh-SA-sihn (/əˈsæsɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “assassin” in a sentence?
Here is “assassin” used in a sentence: “The assassin was hired to kill the senator.”
What part of speech is “assassin”?
“Assassin” is a noun.
Where does the word “assassin” come from?
The word “assassin” comes from French. Traced to Arabic terms linked to a medieval sect and, in popular legend, to hashish users — the word passed into English through French and Italian.
Is “assassin” a common word?
“Assassin” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between an assassin and a murderer?
An assassin specifically kills a public or political figure deliberately, often for money or political reasons, while a murderer is a broader term for anyone who kills someone unlawfully. The distinction lies in the assassin's targeted, often ideologically or financially motivated act against a prominent figure.
Why are assassins often associated with political killings?
Assassins are defined by deliberately killing someone, especially a public or political figure, often for money or political reasons. This motivation ties the term closely to politically significant killings rather than random or personal violence.
Is the term assassin used only for hired killers?
No, while assassins are often motivated by money, the definition also includes those acting for political reasons, so it isn't limited to hired killers. The common thread is the deliberate killing of a public or political figure.

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