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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:

In 1746, Antoine Augustin Calmet, a French Benedictine monk, published what Mr. Blair calls the “most influential academic work” on vampirism and shaped the emerging genre of Gothic fiction.

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

He isn't merely tormented by the barbarity of vampirism, which he refuses to indulge as far as that goes.

From Salon ● Nov. 13, 2022

This discussion about vampirism," said Cyprian, "reminds me of a ghastly story which I either heard or read a very long time ago.

From The Serapion Brethren. Vol. II by Ernst Theordor Wilhelm Hoffmann

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