victor

¹ American  

[vik-ter] / ˈvɪk tər /

noun

1. a person who has overcome or defeated an adversary; conqueror.

2. a winner in any struggle or contest.

3. a word used in communications to represent the letter V.

---

Victor ² American  

[vik-ter] / ˈvɪk tər /

noun

1. an ancient Roman epithet variously applied to Jupiter, Mars, and Hercules.

2. Military. the NATO name for a class of high-speed, nuclear-powered submarines, designed to protect Soviet ships and to attack ballistic-missile submarines: first produced for the Soviet Navy in the 1960s; in service with the Russian Navy since 1992.

3. a male given name.

---

victor ¹ British  

/ ˈvɪktə /

noun

1. 1. a person, nation, etc, that has defeated an adversary in war, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      the victor army

2. the winner of any contest, conflict, or struggle

---

Victor ² British  

/ ˈvɪktə /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter v

---

victor Idioms  

1. see to the victor belong the spoils.

---

Etymology

Origin of victor

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin, equivalent to vic-, past participle stem of vincere “to conquer” + -tor -tor

Explanation

The victor is the winner of a contest, usually one that requires physical skills or strength, like in battle or sports. Calling someone the victor implies that he or she triumphed in a difficult competition. The origin of the noun victor is in the Latin word vincere, meaning “conquer.” If you conquer your opponents, in a weekend-long chess showdown, the wrestling match, the beauty contest, the debate, or a 5K run, you are the victor. It means you won — victory is yours. Whenever an opponent is defeated, the winner is the victor.

Example Sentences

Stratton, who stressed her progressive leanings throughout the campaign, defeated two of the state’s congressional representatives, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, and was declared the victor by the Associated Press.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Rosenberg regards China’s as a victor in the trade war with America so far, by virtue of the $1.2 trillion trade surplus it recorded in 2025.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

No top weight has won the world's greatest steeplechase since triple victor Red Rum in 1974.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

The victor will represent California’s 1st Congressional District with its current boundaries, which stretch from the northern outskirts of Sacramento, through Redding to the Oregon border and to Alturas in the state’s northeast corner.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

Will there be a victor of the Seventy-fifth Hunger Games?

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins