No, these are different concepts. Assassination is targeted killing of a public figure for a large motive which benefits from the death of said individual, such as political upheaval/crippling a government, inciting a panic, eliminating a dictator that isn't cooperating with your nation like all the other dictators, etc. Bob could decide to assassinate JFK and do it himself and it's an assassination and not a contract killing. Then maybe he hires his maid to kill his wife just cuz he doesn't like his wife any more, that's a contract killing but not an assassination because his wife isn't a figurehead and he doesn't accomplish broad change. It's a simplified example but hopefully straightforward enough. 69.105.172.180