vampire

American  

[vam-pahy^uhr] / ˈvæm paɪər /

noun

vampires plural

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

Derived Forms

• vampiric
  adjective
• vampirish
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• vampires
  plural

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

Yet “The Vampire Lestat” asks viewers to believe something as audacious as a centuries-old vampire still being able to captivate people, launch a music career and inspire a movement.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2026

Before “Interview with the Vampire” and “The Vampire Lestat,” Hammer Film Productions’ gothic horror movies made “Dracula” their standard bearer.

From Salon • Jun. 13, 2026

British actor Anthony Head, best known for his roles in TV shows including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ted Lasso, Merlin and Little Britain, has died at the age of 72.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Sarah Michelle Gellar and her actor husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., have put their stunning Hamptons-stye Los Angeles home on the market for $10.5 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

A brown-skinned man with a red Glow goes into the basement—a Vampire.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

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