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 suspects fled from the scene with the victims' property before officers arrived, running in the direction of Julliard Park, police said.
—
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Authorities have not released the victim’s age, gender, relationship to the suspect or the manner of death, citing the early stage of the investigation and the need to preserve its integrity.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
This is not to say that rape can be separated from the hatred of women, just that, in certain situations, the role of the victim can be violently reassigned.
—S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
In an interview with Fox affiliate KTTV, the victim's cousin, Victor Torres, said that the Tustin mom and her 11- and 16-year-old daughters have been through a great deal, even before this latest tragedy.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
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Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Authorities have not released the victim’s age, gender, relationship to the suspect or the manner of death, citing the early stage of the investigation and the need to preserve its integrity.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
This is not to say that rape can be separated from the hatred of women, just that, in certain situations, the role of the victim can be violently reassigned.
—S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
In an interview with Fox affiliate KTTV, the victim's cousin, Victor Torres, said that the Tustin mom and her 11- and 16-year-old daughters have been through a great deal, even before this latest tragedy.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
Cite this Entry
“Victim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victim. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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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