martyrology

American  

[mahr-tuh-rol-uh-jee] / ˌmɑr təˈrɒl ə dʒi /

noun

plural

martyrologies

1. the branch of knowledge dealing with the lives of martyrs.

2. a history of martyrs.

3. such histories collectively.

4. a list of martyrs.

---

martyrology British  

/ ˌmɑːtərəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌmɑːtəˈrɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. an official list of martyrs

2. Christianity the study of the lives of the martyrs

3. a historical account of the lives of martyrs

---

Other Word Forms

• martyrologic adjective
• martyrological adjective
• martyrologist noun

Etymology

Origin of martyrology

1590–1600; < Medieval Latin martyrologium history of martyrs < Late Greek martyrológion. See martyr, -o-, -logy

Example Sentences

Threaded through the narrative, as contrast and commentary, is a martyrology of female saints.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Showfolk love martyrology as much as political people do.

From Time Magazine Archive

Homer and Socrates and the Christian apostles belong to old days, but the world's martyrology was not completed with these.

From The Best of the World's Classics, Vol. V (of X) - Great Britain and Ireland III by Lodge, Henry Cabot

One of the most noted of them is St. Theodosia, whose name is given in the Roman martyrology for the twenty-ninth of May.

From Woman in Science With an Introductory Chapter on Woman's Long Struggle for Things of the Mind by Zahm, John Augustine

I desire to lift my hand away from this, my evening paper, to-night for the last time, ere it becomes an absolute martyrology.

From Flower, Fruit, and Thorn Pieces; or, the Wedded Life, Death, and Marriage of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkaes, Parish Advocate in the Burgh of Kuhschnappel. by Jean Paul