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vampirism

American  
[vam-pahyuhr-iz-uhm, -puh-riz-] / ˈvæm paɪərˌɪz əm, -pəˌrɪz- /

noun

  1. belief in the existence of vampires.

  2. the acts or practices of vampires.

  3. unscrupulous exploitation, ruin, or degradation of others.


vampirism British  
/ ˈvæmpaɪərˌɪzəm /

noun

  1. belief in the existence of vampires

  2. the actions of vampires; bloodsucking

  3. the act of preying upon or exploiting others

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of vampirism

First recorded in 1785–95; vampire + -ism

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.

See Examples For:

Yet commonalities remain: One remedy for vampirism, found on several continents, was to exhume the undead corpse and to drink what was left of its blood.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 21, 2025

Some of the world's deadliest bacteria seek out and feed on human blood, a newly-discovered phenomenon researchers are calling "bacterial vampirism."

From Science Daily Apr. 16, 2024

When Jonathan comes under the count's spell and begins slipping into vampirism, it is Mina who must rescue him and join the hunt for Dracula in England.

From BBC Sep. 5, 2023

While this is a big change, this opens up the story to further explore the relationship between vampirism, race and power.

From Salon Nov. 7, 2022

"Would there not be hope—if he battled with that—put that vampirism behind?"

From She Buildeth Her House by William Wistar Comfort

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