French word

assassin

Pronunciation

IPA/asasɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmurderer

Example

On a arrêté l'assassin hier soir.

The murderer was arrested last night.

Illustration for assassin (murderer)

More examples

Les victimes de l'assassin ont été identifiées.

The murderer's victims have been identified.

Core concept

A planned killer focused on a specific victim rather than on violence in general.

Common phrases

  • le mobile de l'assassin

    the murderer's motive

  • les victimes de l'assassin

    the murderer's victims

  • un assassin à gages

    a hitman

Similar words

meurtrier: A person who has killed someone.
tueur: A person who kills people.
criminel: A person who has committed a crime.

Definition in French

Personne qui commet un homicide intentionnel, généralement avec préméditation et visant une victime déterminée.

Word origin

Assassin entered French through Old French from Medieval Latin assassinus, whose distant source is Arabic hashshashin, the name linked to a medieval community of killers.

Usage tips

  • French assassin is broader than the modern English political sense and can describe any person who commits a premeditated targeted killing.

Other meanings

  • assassinnoun
  • hitmannoun

Related words

Word lists with this word