assassin
noun
as·sas·sin ə-ˈsa-sᵊn 
1
capitalized : a member of a Shia Muslim sect who at the time of the Crusades was sent out on a suicidal mission to murder prominent enemies
2
: a person who commits murder
especially : one who murders a politically important person either for money or from fanatical adherence to a cause
Synonyms
- cutthroat
- homicide
- killer
- manslayer
- murderer
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
John Wilkes Booth was the assassin of Abraham Lincoln. shot down by an unknown assassin
Recent Examples on the Web David Leitch's assassin-crowded film, made for $90 million, has grossed $54.4 million in two weeks. 
Jake Coyle, USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2022 The cheery, unarmed person at the front gate couldn’t stop a heckler, let alone an assassin. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 David Leitch's assassin-crowded film, made for $90 million, has grossed $54.4 million in two weeks for Sony Pictures. Jake Coyle, ajc, 14 Aug. 2022 David Leitch’s assassin-crowded film, made for $90 million, has grossed $54.4 million in two weeks for Sony Pictures. Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2022 Bullet Train, now in theaters, stars Pitt as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin who's hired to snag a briefcase that's currently in transit aboard a high-speed train in Japan. Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Aug. 2022 Predatory and parasitoid insects such as lacewings, dragonflies, assassin bugs, minute pirate bugs, damsel bugs, lady beetles and syrphid flies and their larvae feed on other insects and mites. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 Pitt plays Ladybug, an unlucky assassin rethinking his life, which means listening to him spout endless bromides about self-improvement. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 3 Aug. 2022 Twilight acting the part of a perfect father, Yor, an assassin acting as the mother, and Anya, a girl who can read minds — who work together to create the Forger household. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 3 Aug. 2022 See More
Jake Coyle, USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2022 The cheery, unarmed person at the front gate couldn’t stop a heckler, let alone an assassin. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 David Leitch's assassin-crowded film, made for $90 million, has grossed $54.4 million in two weeks for Sony Pictures. Jake Coyle, ajc, 14 Aug. 2022 David Leitch’s assassin-crowded film, made for $90 million, has grossed $54.4 million in two weeks for Sony Pictures. Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2022 Bullet Train, now in theaters, stars Pitt as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin who's hired to snag a briefcase that's currently in transit aboard a high-speed train in Japan. Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Aug. 2022 Predatory and parasitoid insects such as lacewings, dragonflies, assassin bugs, minute pirate bugs, damsel bugs, lady beetles and syrphid flies and their larvae feed on other insects and mites. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 Pitt plays Ladybug, an unlucky assassin rethinking his life, which means listening to him spout endless bromides about self-improvement. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 3 Aug. 2022 Twilight acting the part of a perfect father, Yor, an assassin acting as the mother, and Anya, a girl who can read minds — who work together to create the Forger household. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 3 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic ḥashshāshīn, plural of ḥashshāsh worthless person, literally, hashish user, from hashīsh hashish
First Known Use
circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing assassin
Kids Definition
assassin
noun
as·sas·sin ə-ˈsa-ˌsᵊn
: someone who kills another person usually for pay or from loyalty to a cause
assassins
noun
as in murderers
a person who kills another person shot down by an unknown assassin Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- murderers
- killers
- cutthroats
- torpedoes
- butchers
- homicides
- slaughterers
- executioners
- slayers
- bravoes
- triggermen
- manslayers
- massacrers
- murderesses
- bravos
- hit men