hit man
B2informal, crime/detective fiction, journalism
Definition
Meaning
A person who is hired to kill someone, typically as a professional criminal.
Can figuratively refer to someone hired to ruthlessly eliminate competition, terminate projects, or aggressively achieve a specific destructive goal in non-violent contexts (e.g., corporate restructuring).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a level of professionalism and detachment from the victim. The term carries strong criminal connotations and is rarely used literally in polite or formal discourse.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'hitman' (often one word) is common in both, but 'hit man' (two words) is a standard variant. No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Identical strong criminal connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media due to larger volume of crime genre output, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[hit man] for [organisation/criminal][organisation] hired a [hit man] to [kill][hit man] was hired by [client]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He was the boss's hit man for difficult decisions. (figurative)”
- “Living like a marked man, he knew a hit man was on his trail.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Figurative: 'They brought in a hit man from consulting to cut costs and fire half the staff.'
Academic
Rare except in criminology or sociology texts discussing organized crime.
Everyday
Used in news reports or discussing crime fiction/films. 'The film's plot revolves around a hit man having a crisis of conscience.'
Technical
In law enforcement contexts: 'The victim was believed to have been targeted by a professional hit man.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The gang decided to hit the informant before he could talk. (verb = to kill)
American English
- They were contracted to hit the rival boss. (verb = to kill)
adverb
British English
- He acted hitman-style, cold and without emotion. (adverbial phrase)
American English
- The job was done hitman-quick. (informal compound adverb)
adjective
British English
- The documentary explored hit-man culture. (compound adjective)
American English
- He had a hitman-like efficiency about him. (adjective phrase)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bad guy in the film is a hit man.
- Police think a professional hit man was involved in the murder.
- The crime boss hired a hit man to eliminate his rival, but the plan went wrong.
- Figuratively speaking, the new CEO was brought in as a corporate hit man to dismantle the underperforming division.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: He HITs a MAN for money. The job is a 'hit' (slang for a murder assignment) on a 'man' (person).
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS IS WAR / PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. The killer is a 'contractor' providing a 'service' for a 'fee'. The victim is a 'target'.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'man-hitter' or someone who hits people in a fight. It specifically means a paid, professional killer. The direct translation 'убийца' is too broad (just 'killer'). More precise terms are 'наёмный убийца' or 'киллер' (a loanword).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hitman' as a verb (e.g., 'They hitmanned him' – incorrect). The verb form is 'to hit'.
- Confusing with 'hitman' in sports (e.g., a baseball player who gets many hits). Context is critical.
- Using in formal writing without quotation marks or qualification.
Practice
Quiz
In which context could 'hit man' be used FIGURATIVELY and non-violently?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'hit man' and 'hitman' are accepted. Dictionaries list both. 'Hitman' as one word is increasingly common.
They are largely synonymous. 'Assassin' can sound slightly more formal or political (e.g., political assassin), while 'hit man' strongly implies being hired for money, often within organized crime.
Yes, though less common. The term 'hit woman' is sometimes used, but 'hit man' can function as a gender-neutral professional title in context, similar to 'chairman'.
It is a heavy term with strong criminal connotations. Use with caution, primarily in discussions about crime, fiction, or metaphorically in informal business slang.