victim

noun

vic·​tim ˈvik-təm 

1

: one that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent

the schools are victims of the social system

: such as

a(1)

: one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of various conditions

a victim of cancer

a victim of the auto crash

a murder victim

(2)

: one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment

a frequent victim of political attacks

b

: one that is tricked or duped

a con man's victim

2

: a living being sacrificed to a deity or in the performance of a religious rite

victimhood

ˈvik-təm-ˌhu̇d 

noun

Synonyms of victim

• fatality
• casualty
• prey

Examples of victim in a Sentence

the victims of a hoax

He was the victim of an error.

Recent Examples on the Web

Naturally, your mileage may vary depending on your tolerance for gore, but the over-the-top appeal of Thanksgiving is how the serial killer creatively disposes of his victims, including one scene in which someone is served as a Turkey Day feast. —Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025

The victims of prejudice and inequality are always the best guardians of the ramparts that sustain those miseries. —Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025

Most of the victims were young, Black and poor. —Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 23 Nov. 2025

The victims were taken to Bella Coola Hospital and were being transferred to Vancouver for further care, Van Damme said. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin victima; perhaps akin to Old High German wīh holy

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing victim

• fall victim to
• fashion victim
• victim mentality

Rhymes for victim

• dictum

Kids Definition

victim

noun

vic·​tim ˈvik-təm 

1

: a living being offered as a sacrifice in a religious rite

2

: an individual injured or killed (as by disease or accident)

3

: a person cheated, fooled, or harmed by another