victim

noun

vic·​tim ˈvik-təm How to pronounce victim (audio)
1
: one that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent
the schools are victims of the social system
: such as
a(1)
: one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of various conditions
a victim of cancer
a victim of the auto crash
a murder victim
(2)
: one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment
a frequent victim of political attacks
b
: one that is tricked or duped
a con man's victim
2
: a living being sacrificed to a deity or in the performance of a religious rite
victimhood noun

Examples of victim in a Sentence

the victims of a hoax He was the victim of an error.
Recent Examples on the Web Officers spotted the victims shortly before 2 p.m. at NW 10th Avenue and 55th Street and 62nd Street, Miami police said in a statement. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Police have yet to publicly identify the victims and are still working to determine where the plane originated from. Joe Sutton, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 According to victim accounts and eyewitness reports, two suspects armed with handguns forced their way into the home, confronted the occupants and demanded their valuables, police said. Jason Green, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 According to a press release from the Los Angeles Police Department, the abuse occurred approximately two years prior at Peck’s residence, and at the time, Peck was coaching the victim. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024 The decision to hold a hearing on Carter’s legislation signals that some Missouri Republicans, in addition to pursuing looser gun laws, also plan to target the ability for victims of gun violence to hold shooters civilly liable. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 Beristain, a physician, has worked with trauma victims for human-rights commissions throughout Latin America. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 In that case, too, the victims paid the hackers' ransom. Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 The other victims were Goncalves' best friend, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'victim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin victima; perhaps akin to Old High German wīh holy

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of victim was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near victim

Cite this Entry

“Victim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victim. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

victim

noun
vic·​tim ˈvik-təm How to pronounce victim (audio)
1
: a living being offered as a sacrifice in a religious rite
2
: an individual injured or killed (as by disease or accident)
3
: a person cheated, fooled, or harmed by another

More from Merriam-Webster on victim

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