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
Examples of victim in a Sentence
the victims of a hoax
He was the victim of an error.
Recent Examples on the Web
The victim’s grandson, 17-year-old Jadynn Hamilton, was arrested and charged in connection with her death that evening after allegedly confessing to the crime, per the outlets.
—
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
British politicians and other key figures expressed their shock at Saturday’s attack and offered their condolences to victims.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Lee advocates for worldwide standards on user verification and mediation systems where victims could identify attackers without expensive legal battles.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025
Trump has claimed that white Afrikaners, particularly farmers, were victims of a genocide, and made the population the first refugee group to land in America during his second term.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for victim
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Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
British politicians and other key figures expressed their shock at Saturday’s attack and offered their condolences to victims.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Lee advocates for worldwide standards on user verification and mediation systems where victims could identify attackers without expensive legal battles.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025
Trump has claimed that white Afrikaners, particularly farmers, were victims of a genocide, and made the population the first refugee group to land in America during his second term.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for victim
Cite this Entry
“Victim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victim. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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