victimization

American  

[vik-tuh-muh-zey-shuhn] / ˌvɪk tə məˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of making someone into a victim by harming or killing them.

   Mentally ill people who wander these streets are particularly vulnerable to victimization by criminal predators.

2. the act or fact of blaming others for the hardships one encounters in life.

   That school of thought says that victimization is an attitude: you may have no control over what happens to you, but you can control what you do with it.

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Etymology

Origin of victimization

First recorded in 1840–50; victimiz(e) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Example Sentences

Some researchers caution that victimization surveys don’t line up with the fall in reported crime, possibly muddying the picture for some offenses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026

This helps the empathizer make sense of things, but it sounds more like victimization and a savior complex than empathy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

Quiñonez says he wanted to emphasize the beauty of immigrant culture, instead of its victimization.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2025

"Depression among transgender youth is a big public health concern, but it's not gender identity or transitioning that is at the root. It's the bullying, rejection and victimization we need to be worried about."

From Science Daily • May 22, 2024

It's when mercy is least expected that it's most potent—strong enough to break the cycle of victimization and victimhood, retribution and suffering.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• deception