Assailant
/əˈseɪlənt/
nounIntermediate📊CommonPerson
1 meaning2 questions
Definitions
1
A person who attacks or assaults another.
/əˈseɪlənt/
nounnegativeIntermediate
Person
A person who attacks another person.
The assailant fled the scene after the robbery.
💡 Simply: Someone who attacks.
More Examples
2
Police are searching for the assailant.
How It's Used
Legal
"The assailant was apprehended by police shortly after the incident."
News Reporting
"Witnesses described the assailant as a tall man wearing a dark coat."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Old French assailant, present participle of assaillir "to assault," from Latin ad- + salire "to leap, jump." The word reflects the image of someone suddenly attacking.
The word's usage has remained consistent throughout history, primarily in legal and crime-related contexts.
Memory tip
Think of 'assault' - the assailant is the one doing the assaulting.
Word Origin
LanguageLatin
Original meaning
"to leap or jump at"
Base: assault
violent assailantunknown assailantthe assailant's motive
Common misspellings
asailantassalentassaillant
Practice
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written