vampire

American  

[vam-pahy^uhr] / ˈvæm paɪər /

noun

1. a preternatural being, commonly believed to be a reanimated corpse, that is said to suck the blood of sleeping persons at night.

2. (in Eastern European folklore) a corpse, animated by an undeparted soul or demon, that periodically leaves the grave and disturbs the living, until it is exhumed and impaled or burned.

3. a person who preys ruthlessly upon others; extortionist.

4. a woman who unscrupulously exploits, ruins, or degrades the men she seduces.

5. an actress noted for her roles as an unscrupulous seductress.

   the vampires of the silent movies.

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vampire British  

/ ˈvæmpaɪə, væmˈpɪrɪk /

noun

1. (in European folklore) a corpse that rises nightly from its grave to drink the blood of the living

2. See vampire bat

3. a person who preys mercilessly upon others, such as a blackmailer

4. See vamp 1

5. theatre a trapdoor on a stage

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Other Word Forms

• vampiric
  adjective
• vampirish
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of vampire

First recorded in 1725–35; from French or directly from German Vampir, from Serbo-Croatian vàmpīr, alteration of earlier upir (by confusion with doublets such as vȁzdūh, ȕzdūh “air” (from Slavic vŭ- ), and with intrusive nasal, as in dùbrava, dumbrȁva “grove”); akin to Czech upír, Polish upiór, Old Russian upyrĭ, upirĭ ( Russian upýrʾ ), from unattested Slavic u-pirĭ or ǫ-pirĭ, probably a compound noun formed with unattested root per- “fly, rush” (literal meaning variously interpreted)

Explanation

Although traditionally used to refer to the bloodsucking undead, you can use the noun vampire to describe someone who heartlessly preys on others — a blackmailer, or anyone else who just sucks the life out of you. Vampire first appeared as a word in English in the early 1700’s, but folklore surrounding undead creatures that feed off of human blood has been around since the earliest times. Among many supposed abilities, vampires are sometimes believed to be able to take the form of a bat. The word vampire is also used to refer to non-mythical “vampire bats” which are native to the Americas and really do feed on blood.

Example Sentences

Wirries’ Star does more than flirt with the dark side, but in resisting the temptation to become part of the vampire pack she becomes worthy of Michael’s obsessive love.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Like many lonely kids, she retreated into her imagination, where Stephenie Meyer's vampire novels became her lifeline.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

But should I ever have the misfortune of running into an actual vampire, I would willingly make a bargain: Drink my blood, fine—just don’t start singing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Rolling Stone journalist Matt Taibbi used similar language in 2010, calling External link Goldman Sachs “a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity.”

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

For a second I was going to tell her they were vampire bites, but something told me to tell the truth this time.

From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Related Words

• demon
• devil
• phantom
• shadow
• soul
• specter
• vision