victimless
Americanadjective
Explanation
When something is victimless, no one is harmed by it. If you accidentally run a stop sign on an empty road and nobody gets hurt, it makes sense to consider it a victimless crime. The adjective victimless often refers to a punishable crime that didn't really hurt anyone; in other words, there's no victim. For example, it might be illegal to loiter in front of the library at night, but it's really a victimless offense. This word comes from the Latin root victima, "person or animal killed in sacrifice," and -less, "free from."
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.
"It's not victimless," she said of the hate directed at her office.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
“Corruption doesn’t just slow progress, it distorts it. It raises costs, weakens competition, and erodes the trust that markets depend on. It’s not a victimless problem,” Johnson said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2026
Since Liu, federal courts have split on victimless disgorgement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026
TfL says fare evasion is "not a victimless crime" and "robs Londoners of vital investment", adding that it was "committed to reducing the current rate of fare evasion to 1.5% by 2030".
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2025
It was a great white altar, victimless and bare.
From The Side Of The Angels A Novel by Basil King
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