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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The study, the first of its kind locally, was conducted by Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee, the state's largest advocacy organization for victims of domestic violence. Ashley Luthern, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025 The Chester County District Attorney’s Office reported multiple victims and asked the public to avoid the area, according to a post on Facebook. Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025 However, her family has widely disputed both ideas, and instead have looked to evidence suggesting Bradley may have been a victim of human trafficking while on board the ship. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025 Authorities believe that there may be additional victims and ask anyone with similar experiences or additional information to contact RCPD at 650-780-7100. Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for victim

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Victim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victim. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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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