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

• casualty
• fatality
• loss
• prey

Examples of victim in a Sentence

the victims of a hoax

He was the victim of an error.

Recent Examples on the Web

There was a young woman who dressed as a Boston Marathon bombing victim for Halloween. —Kelsey McKinney, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2025

In January, they were spotted together visiting the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena, Calif., to help distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eaton Fire. —Janine Henni, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025

Police sources said the victim got into an argument with the stabber just before the attack. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2025

That is keeping them from being the victims of dangerous attacks. —Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 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

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