A contract killing (also contract murder or murder-for-hire) is a murder in which the killer is hired by another person to kill someone for material reward, usually money. A person who carries out a contract killing is sometimes known as a contract killer or hit man. In many countries with judicial systems, contract killings are examples of a situation in which contracts are unenforceable by law (in the sense that the customer cannot sue for specific performance and the contract killer cannot sue for his pay). Both a hit man and his customer can be found guilty of homicide.

In some jurisdictions with capital punishment, a contract killing may be a special circumstance.

See also

• Assassin
• Assassination market
• Murder, Inc.
• List of contract killers
• Sharpshooter
• A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors

Murder | Contract killers | Illegal occupations | Organized crime terminology

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