French word

assassinat

Pronunciation

IPA/asasina/

Meaning

  • masculine nounassassination

Example

La police enquête sur l'assassinat du maire.

The police are investigating the assassination of the mayor.

Illustration for assassinat (assassination)

More examples

La famille a demandé justice pour l'assassinat.

The family demanded justice for the assassination.

Core concept

A targeted killing carried out after deliberate planning.

Common phrases

  • commettre un assassinat

    carry out an assassination

  • tentative d'assassinat

    attempted assassination

  • assassinat politique

    political assassination

Similar words

meurtre: The intentional killing of a person.
homicide: A legal term for a person's death caused by another.
attentat: A violent attack using force or explosives to achieve political aims or spread fear.

Definition in French

Désigne le meurtre prémédité d'une personne, généralement considéré comme un crime grave.

Word origin

French assassinat was borrowed from Italian assassinato, related to assassino, a word transmitted into European languages from Arabic ḥashshāshīn.

Usage tips

  • Assassinat is a formal term common in legal and news contexts; everyday speech more often uses meurtre or tuer.

Other meanings

  • murdernoun

Related words

Word lists with this word