"assassination" is a word which means murdering a prominent person for a reason. the word is most used when the person who was killed was a celebrity or was a person involved in politics. the people who carry out assassinations are called "assassins" or "hit-men". an assassin may murder someone for political reasons, for money, or for other reasons, such as favors owed and revenge. assassination is the same as murder and is mortal sin to the catholic church.