martyrdom
Americannoun
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the sufferings or death of a martyr
-
great suffering or torment
Etymology
Origin of martyrdom
Explanation
Suffering or dying for your beliefs, that’s martyrdom, and while it doesn’t sound pleasant, some people feel it’s a great honor. The root of martyrdom is the Greek word martur, which means “witness"; the suffix -dom means “state or condition.” In a religious context, people who experience martyrdom bear witness for their faith and suffer or die because of their beliefs. Some people falsely claim martyrdom as a way to get attention, like your brother who whines about doing chores because his pinkie hurts.
Vocabulary lists containing martyrdom
"Musée des Beaux Arts" by W.H. Auden
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"Musee des Beaux Arts," Vocabulary from the poem
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Poems 10.4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
More clear-eyed now, Jean must reject her martyrdom and reclaim her own truth and agency.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
The Islamic Republic and Shia Islam are imbued with the idea of martyrdom.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026
Motherhood’s long association with martyrdom is a real turn-off.
From Salon • Feb. 4, 2026
A Shiite cleric, he lives frugally and was brought up in a religious tradition that reveres martyrdom.
From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026
Working out some scheme of their own on him, making him the subject of their dreams of wealth, or love, or martyrdom.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
