A hitman (alternately, hit man) is a hired assassin, usually in the employ of organized crime. Hitmen are often hired for an extended period of time, rather than per job. In all countries with functioning judicial systems, a contract with a hit man is unenforceable at law (in the sense that the customer cannot sue for specific performance and the hit man cannot sue for his pay).

• Hit Man is also the name of several books:
  • Hit Man, by Lawrence Block, ISBN 038072541X
  • Hit Man, a Technical Manual for Independent Contractors by Rex Feral, is a how-to manual on contract killing. The publisher, Paladin Press, was sued by the family of a victim whose murderer took this book as a guideline. Paladin Press eventually settled and took the book out of print. Copies exist on the Internet (notably IRC), often accompanied by the claim that the book is now in the public domain, but neither Paladin Press nor contemporary press accounts of the settlement give any indication that the book is now out of copyright.

• Hitman is also a computer game series by the Danish computer game developers IO Interactive; see Hitman (computer game).

• Hitman is also a comic book from publisher DC Comics; see Hitman (comics).

• Hitman is also the nickname of boxer Thomas Hearns, and the most commonly used nickname for professional wrestler Bret Hart.

• Hitman is also a parody web site that is made to look as if it offers actual "assassination services"; see http://hitman.us/

• Calgary Hitmen are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League in Calgary,Alberta.

See also

• Assassin
• Assassination market
• http://ftp.die.net/mirror/hitman/ - for the book Hit Man