1
: a person who commits murder
especially
: one who murders a politically important person either for money or from fanatical adherence to a cause
2
Assassin
: 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
Examples of assassin in a Sentence
John Wilkes Booth was the assassin of Abraham Lincoln.
shot down by an unknown assassin
Recent Examples on the Web
Ten years later, Jack and Jackie fell in love—and two months later, Jack was killed by an assassin’s bullet in Dallas, Texas.
—
Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
After 50-plus years behind bars, Houten walked out in 2023.
— In 2022, Newsom rejected the release of Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan — which parole commissioners had recommended.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 17 July 2025
Footage and investigations have since raised more questions about how the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, was able to position himself with a clear line of sight toward the presumptive Republican candidate for president.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
And in the season finale, Charlie’s ability to discern deception is foiled in spectacular fashion by the world’s best assassin, whom Charlie had previously befriended and inadvertently ends up leading to her target.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for assassin
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Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
After 50-plus years behind bars, Houten walked out in 2023.
— In 2022, Newsom rejected the release of Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan — which parole commissioners had recommended.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 17 July 2025
Footage and investigations have since raised more questions about how the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, was able to position himself with a clear line of sight toward the presumptive Republican candidate for president.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
And in the season finale, Charlie’s ability to discern deception is foiled in spectacular fashion by the world’s best assassin, whom Charlie had previously befriended and inadvertently ends up leading to her target.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for assassin
Cite this Entry
“Assassin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assassin. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
assassin
noun
as·sas·sin
ə-ˈsas-ən 
: a person who kills another person
especially
: one who murders a politically important person either for pay or from loyalty to a cause
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