hit man

or hitman

noun

, Slang.

1. a hired killer, especially a professional killer from the underworld.
2. hatchet man ( def 3 ).

hit man

noun

1. slang.
   a hired assassin, esp one employed by gangsters

Word History and Origins

Origin of hit man¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

We spent days with drug traffickers and gunmen like Rafa, a hit man for the Sinaloa Cartel.

From Fortune

Conservative hit man turned liberal media critic David Brock, spotted smoking an e-cigarette in the lobby.

From The Daily Beast

Former Chicago hit man Frank Cullotta now makes an honest living leading tours of his old mob haunts in Las Vegas.

From The Daily Beast

But for a few nights a week, I become Xe BlackH20, a car thief and hit man trying to make it on the mean streets of Los Santos.

From The Daily Beast

Then there's another kind of guy who looks and acts just like a regular hit man.

From The Daily Beast

This is not exactly the performance of a professional hit man.

From The Daily Beast

In flying they have the adroitness to shoot their arrows so very true that they scarcely ever fail to hit man or horse.

From Project Gutenberg

And gyf he ne dyrre, gylde hit thry gylde, swa hit man gewyrthe.

From Project Gutenberg

Gif hwa gewerde ores monnes wingeard oe his ceras oe his landes awuht, gebete swa hit man geeahtige.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assassin
• gunman
• hit woman
• murderer
• sniper