assassination
An assassination is when someone gets killed, usually secretly and often by another person or group.
The word "assassination" is used in many different ways, but most of the time it's about a person being murdered, often for political reasons. Sometimes this can be a dramatic event that makes big news headlines. We might read about an assassination attempt on a leader or famous person. In some cases, the word is used to describe a more subtle act, like poisoning or other ways someone gets harmed by another person's actions.
The word "assassination" can also refer to the act of killing itself, rather than the person being killed. For example, you might say, "There was an assassination on the streets last night." In this case, it means there was a murder that happened in public.
How common is "assassination"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
noun
The murder of a person, especially for political reasons or for personal gain.
Example: The assassination of the king occurred at night.
Real examples of "assassination" in context
