victory

[ vik-tuh-ree, vik-tree ]

noun

, plural vic·to·ries.

1. a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.

   Antonyms: defeat

2. an engagement ending in such triumph:

   American victories in the Pacific were won at great cost.

   Antonyms: defeat

3. the ultimate and decisive superiority in any battle or contest:

   The new vaccine effected a victory over poliomyelitis.

   Antonyms: defeat

4. a success or superior position achieved against any opponent, opposition, difficulty, etc.:

   a moral victory.

5. (initial capital letter) the ancient Roman goddess Victoria, often represented in statues or on coins as the personification of victory.

victory

¹

/ ˈvɪktərɪ /

noun

1. final and complete superiority in a war
2. a successful military engagement
3. a success attained in a contest or struggle or over an opponent, obstacle, or problem
4. the act of triumphing or state of having triumphed

Victory

²

/ ˈvɪktərɪ /

noun

1. another name (in English) for Victoria 3
2. another name (in English) for Nike

Other Words From

• victo·ry·less adjective
• non·victo·ry noun plural nonvictories
• super·victo·ry noun plural supervictories

Word History and Origins

Origin of victory¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English victorie, from Latin victōria, equivalent to victōr-, stem of victor victor + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of victory¹

C14: from Old French victorie, from Latin victōria, from vincere to subdue

Idioms and Phrases

see pyrrhic victory .

Synonym Study

Victory, conquest, triumph refer to a successful outcome of a struggle. Victory suggests the decisive defeat of an opponent in a contest of any kind: victory in battle; a football victory. Conquest implies the taking over of control by the victor, and the obedience of the conquered: a war of conquest; the conquest of Peru. Triumph implies a particularly outstanding victory: the triumph of a righteous cause; the triumph of justice.

Example Sentences

It is not a decisive war, with a single, signature victory, but a war of attrition.

From The Daily Beast

And the bells chimed for victory at 1211 Avenue of the Americas.

From The Daily Beast

On May 9, which Moscow commemorates as World War II “Victory Day,” Klaus paid a highly visible visit to the Russian Embassy.

From The Daily Beast

Kurdish forces declared victory and freed Yazidi holdouts, with help from U.S. air power.

From The Daily Beast

Besides, victory fever had spread like wildfire throughout the Allied armies.

From The Daily Beast

He signalized himself by a great victory which he obtained on the banks of the Neva, over the northern powers.

From Project Gutenberg

He has been ashore at Kum Kale and reports violent fighting and, for the time being, victory.

From Project Gutenberg

But, instead of following up their victory, the half-resolute rioters camped near Guadalupe for the night.

From Project Gutenberg

The trophies of the victory were six men of war and all of their East India ships, and between four and five thousand prisoners.

From Project Gutenberg

He marched to meet it with the throbbing pulses of a soldier rushing to victory or a saint to martyrdom.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• achievement
• advantage
• defeat
• gain
• grand slam
• hit
• sweep
• triumph
• winning