martyrdom

noun

mar·​tyr·​dom ˈmär-tər-dəm 

1

: the suffering of death on account of adherence to a cause and especially to one's religious faith

… defended moral truth even to the point of enduring martyrdom …

—Andrew Sullivan

2

: affliction, torture

Examples of martyrdom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Before his martyrdom, Hippolytus abandoned his schismatic stance and claim to the papacy, and was restored to communion with the Church by Pope Pontian. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Alluding to the attack only in the title, Anedda notes a few events showing the effects, patterns and tasks of an illustrator, the men seeking martyrdom, as well as the earthworms, gnats and the snail working the soil. — Wallis Wilde-Menozzi, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026

More than mourning For most Shiites, Husayn’s martyrdom is more than a historical tragedy. — Iqbal Akhtar, The Conversation, 31 July 2026

Worner said the notion of a miracle — independent of martyrdom— is twofold. — Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

martyrdom

noun

mar·​tyr·​dom ˈmärt-ərd-əm 

1

: the sufferings and death of a martyr

2

: torment entry 1 sense 1