martyr

1 of 2

noun

mar·​tyr ˈmär-tər 

1

: a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion

2

: a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle

a martyr to the cause of freedom

3

: victim

especially : a great or constant sufferer

a martyr to asthma all his life

—A. J. Cronin

martyrization

ˌmär-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

martyrize

ˈmär-tə-ˌrīz 

transitive verb

martyr

2 of 2

verb

martyred; martyring; martyrs

transitive verb

1

: to put to death for adhering to a belief, faith, or profession

2

: to inflict agonizing pain on : torture

Examples of martyr in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

White South Carolinians praised the Klansmen as martyrs of the former Confederacy. —Brittany Friedman / Made By History, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025

Violent rioters — prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned — somehow became patriotic martyrs. —Dan Barry, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025

Verb

The skeletal remains of two saints martyred in Rome more than 1,800 years ago are on display at the front of the church, encased in illuminated glass tombs. —Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 24 Dec. 2024

In the years since, Peanut’s various costumes and antics, including jumping through hoops and eating waffles, have earned him hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, per Social Blade — even before he was martyred. —Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek martyr-, martys witness

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing martyr

• play the martyr

Kids Definition

martyr

1 of 2 noun

mar·​tyr ˈmärt-ər 

1

: a person who suffers death rather than give up his or her religion

2

: one who sacrifices life or something of great value for a principle or cause

3

: a person who suffers greatly

martyr

2 of 2 verb

1

: to put to death for refusing to give up a belief

2

: torture entry 2