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

Neither the driver nor the victims have been publicly identified by authorities. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2025

Olivia Godfrey, the couple's daughter, provided a victim impact statement and said her father's drug use impacted his mental health, according to ABC. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025

In her victim impact statement, the woman recalled how, after her and her boyfriend were ambushed and robbed in their parking garage, she was hit in the face with a gun, according to court documents. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2025

Several other fire victims are likely in the same situation. —Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 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