martyr

[mahr-ter]

noun

1. a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce their religion.

2. a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause.

   Her death has made her a martyr to the cause of social justice.

3. a person who undergoes severe or constant suffering.

   The patient was a martyr to severe headaches.

4. a person who seeks sympathy or attention by feigning or exaggerating pain, deprivation, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to persecute for supporting a belief or cause, especially by putting to death.

2. to torment or torture.

martyr

/ ˈmɑːtə /

noun

1. a person who suffers death rather than renounce his religious beliefs

2. a person who suffers greatly or dies for a cause, belief, etc

3. a person who suffers from poor health, misfortune, etc

   he's a martyr to rheumatism

4. facetious,  a person who feigns suffering to gain sympathy, help, etc

verb

1. to kill as a martyr

2. to make a martyr of

Other Word Forms

• martyrish adjective
• martyrly adverb
• unmartyred adjective
• martyrization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of martyr¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun martir, marter, Old English martyr from Old French and Late Latin, from Late Greek mártyr, dialect variant of Greek mártys, mártyros “witness”; verb derivative of noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of martyr¹

Old English martir, from Church Latin martyr, from Late Greek martur-, martus witness

Example Sentences

He’s an unhappy but willing martyr whose heart is slowly breaking the entire time.

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The bustling population of the refugee camp that gave Jenin its reputation as the martyrs’ capital?

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Regardless of whether the prosecution is successful or not the party could make hay from the case and present her as a martyr.

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Nationally, conservatives have rushed to solidify the image of Kirk as a martyr for their cause.

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Even while filling in for Kirk, who is now seen as a conservative martyr, Carlson managed to upset some on the right.

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Related Words

• scapegoat