assassination
n. C / Un. the murder of a famous or important person, usually for political reasons. You use this word when the victim is a leader, like a president or a king.
n. the murder of a prominent person, often a political leader or public figure, typically carried out for political or ideological motives. Often involves a sudden or secret attack.
The assassination of the president shocked the entire nation.
Security forces were on high alert following rumors of a planned assassination against the visiting diplomat.
Historians often debate whether the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the sole cause of the war or merely the final spark in a volatile political landscape.
From assassinate + -ion.
Uncountable when referring to the general act or method; countable when referring to specific historical instances.
the murder of the president was an assassinationthe assassination of the presidentWhile technically a murder, 'assassination' is the specific term used for political figures; using 'murder' can sound imprecise in a formal or historical context.