victim

[ vik-tim ]

/ ˈvɪk tɪm /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: victim / victims on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or agency: a victim of an automobile accident.

a person who is deceived or cheated, as by his or her own emotions or ignorance, by the dishonesty of others, or by some impersonal agency: a victim of misplaced confidence; the victim of a swindler; a victim of an optical illusion.

a person or animal sacrificed or regarded as sacrificed: war victims.

a living creature sacrificed in religious rites.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of victim

First recorded in 1490–1500, victim is from the Latin word victima sacrificial animal

OTHER WORDS FROM victim

vic·tim·hood, nounvic·tim·less, adjectivenon·vic·tim, noun

Words nearby victim

vicomte, vicomtesse, vicontiel, Vict., Victa, victim, victimization, victimize, victimless crime, victimology, Victoire

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use victim in a sentence

Twelve of the victims were on foot or two wheels, down from 15 last year in a city that has focused efforts on measures to protect vulnerable road users.
Traffic counts fell during the coronavirus pandemic, but road fatalities still increased|Luz Lazo|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Essentially, it blames a victim a second time, and it works.
Md. Senate committee holds hearing on bill to ban panic defense|Philip Van Slooten|February 8, 2021|Washington Blade
The victim was later identified as Dominic Anthony Nicholas Moye of Dumfries.
Man found fatally shot inside vehicle in Dumfries|Dana Hedgpeth|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
Kling and the detective went door to door and foundmore victims.
Blanca Kling, a pillar in the Latino community who helped thousands of crime victims, dies of complications of covid-19|Luz Lazo|February 5, 2021|Washington Post

Covid, however, moved fast, burning through its victims not like the slow consumption of TB or the inner dissolution of cancer, but like a rapidly moving fire.
The virus caused more than a pandemic. It set us all ablaze.|Philip Kennicott|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
And in so many of these events, the pattern of “blame the victim” was quickly in evidence.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion|Gene Robinson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And that realization comes at the cost of severe, public embarrassment for many, including the victim/proposed.
Public Marriage Proposals Must Die|Tauriq Moosa|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The victim, whom The Daily Beast is not naming, asked what Williams wanted and the pastor allegedly “reached in and grabbed him.”
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The episode that aired before it, which involved a campus rape victim, was highly controversial.
'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble|Kevin Fallon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Men ages 18 to 24 enrolled in college were more likely to become a victim.
College Girls Are Less Likely to Be Raped Than Non-Students|Brandy Zadrozny|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The virtuous statesman advanced to meet him, while his countenance proclaimed that he knew all, and sympathized with its victim.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Elizabeth left the blameless victim of all this wrath, standing in the middle of the floor.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
He conspired against Richelieu, to whom he was indebted for much of his good fortune, and to whose resentment he fell a victim.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Forcing himself to believe that he had been the victim of some kind of illusory perception, he vigorously restrained his feelings.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
As he was about to descend the tree to feed upon his victim, his wicked eyes saw the hunters for the first time.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade

British Dictionary definitions for victim

victim

/ (ˈvɪktɪm) /

noun

a person or thing that suffers harm, death, etc, from another or from some adverse act, circumstance, etcvictims of tyranny

a person who is tricked or swindled; dupe

a living person or animal sacrificed in a religious rite

Word Origin for victim

C15: from Latin victima

usage for victim

Using the word victim or victims in relation to chronic illness or disability is often considered demeaning and disempowering. Alternative phrases such as who experiences, who has been diagnosed with, or simply with and then the name of the disability or illness, can be used instead

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

victim

Origin of victim

OTHER WORDS FROM victim

Words nearby victim

Words related to victim

How to use victim in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for victim

Word Origin for victim

usage for victim