Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who murders a prominent or important person, especially for political or ideological reasons: An assassin typically kills by surprise attack, often targeting public figures like politicians or leaders.
   • A member of a secret order of Muslims (founded in the 12th century) who terrorized and killed Christian Crusaders: This historical meaning refers to a member of a specific medieval sect known for carrying out covert killings.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The president was killed by an assassin.
  • Historical accounts describe the Assassins as a feared sect during the Crusades.
  • The police are searching for the assassin who shot the senator.

Advanced Usage

• "Assassin's creed": A phrase sometimes used to refer to a strict code or set of principles followed by a killer, often in fictional contexts.
  • The character in the novel operated by a personal assassin's creed.

Variants and Related Words

• Assassinate (verb): To murder (a prominent person) by sudden or secret attack.
  • The plot to assassinate the governor was uncovered.
• Assassination (noun): The act of murdering a prominent person by sudden or secret attack.
  • The assassination of the leader plunged the country into chaos.

Synonyms

• Hitman: A person paid to kill someone.
• Murderer: A person who commits murder.
• Slayer: A person who kills someone.

Related Phrases

• "Lone assassin": A killer who acts alone, without accomplices.
  • The theory suggests the attack was the work of a lone assassin.
• "Assassin for hire": A killer who is paid to commit murders.
  • He was accused of being an assassin for hire for the criminal syndicate.

Noun

1. a member of a secret order of Muslims (founded in the 12th century) who terrorized and killed Christian Crusaders
2. a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed
   • his assassins were hunted down like animals
   • assassinators of kings and emperors