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: a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion
martyred; martyring; martyrs
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Time, 2 Oct. 2022
In fact, one of the greatest heroes of the North during the Civil War was (depending on your perspective) either a terrorist, an insurgent, a freedom fighter, a madman, a martyr, or the paragon of a righteous cause.
—Brynn Tannehill, The New Republic, 12 Dec. 2022
Though Lucia is considered a Christian martyr, there are also Norse traditions brought into the celebration after Norsemen converted to Christianity.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
Gen-Xers and older millennials may have identified best with John, a rock-and-roll antihero and Cobain-esque martyr.
—Lane Brown, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2022
And Russia had made a martyr out of Mr. Bout over the past 14 years; freeing him would allow Mr. Putin to boast about finally bringing a patriot home.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2022
And Russia had made a martyr out of Bout over the past 14 years; freeing him would allow Putin to boast about finally bringing a patriot home.
—Peter Baker, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Dec. 2022
Albie di Grasso’s room, for example, features an image of martyr Saint Sebastian, who was tied to a tree and riddled with arrows (notably, this didn’t kill him; he was rescued by Saint Irene of Rome.
—Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 9 Dec. 2022
Charlie’s purity renders him a kind of sainted figure, an angelic martyr of sorts.
—cleveland, 8 Dec. 2022
Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 18 Aug. 2022
Her choice to martyr herself to a husband who sounds like a selfish deadbeat must seem puzzling to you, but your role here is not to fix her life.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022
Her choice to martyr herself to a husband who sounds like a selfish deadbeat must seem puzzling to you, but your role here is not to fix her life.
—Amy Dickinson, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022
Her choice to martyr herself to a husband who sounds like a selfish deadbeat must seem puzzling to you, but your role here is not to fix her life.
—Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2022
Her choice to martyr herself to a husband who sounds like a selfish deadbeat must seem puzzling to you, but your role here is not to fix her life.
—Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 18 Aug. 2022
As for the food and cleanup, don’t martyr yourself.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 24 July 2022
Catanzara’s potential ouster as a Chicago police officer could also martyr him to supporters in the FOP who see him as an outspoken foe of the Lightfoot administration.
—Jeremy Gorner, chicagotribune.com, 14 Nov. 2021
Ursula, legend holds, was a British princess martyred in Germany in the 4th century, along with as many as 11,000 of her holy companions.
—T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 27 May 2020
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Noun
Some women’s cheeks bore drawings of a red poppy, the symbol of a martyr in Iran.
—Time, 2 Oct. 2022
In fact, one of the greatest heroes of the North during the Civil War was (depending on your perspective) either a terrorist, an insurgent, a freedom fighter, a madman, a martyr, or the paragon of a righteous cause.
—Brynn Tannehill, The New Republic, 12 Dec. 2022
Though Lucia is considered a Christian martyr, there are also Norse traditions brought into the celebration after Norsemen converted to Christianity.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
Gen-Xers and older millennials may have identified best with John, a rock-and-roll antihero and Cobain-esque martyr.
—Lane Brown, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2022
And Russia had made a martyr out of Mr. Bout over the past 14 years; freeing him would allow Mr. Putin to boast about finally bringing a patriot home.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2022
And Russia had made a martyr out of Bout over the past 14 years; freeing him would allow Putin to boast about finally bringing a patriot home.
—Peter Baker, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Dec. 2022
Albie di Grasso’s room, for example, features an image of martyr Saint Sebastian, who was tied to a tree and riddled with arrows (notably, this didn’t kill him; he was rescued by Saint Irene of Rome.
—Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 9 Dec. 2022
Charlie’s purity renders him a kind of sainted figure, an angelic martyr of sorts.
—cleveland, 8 Dec. 2022
Verb
Her choice to martyr herself to a husband who sounds like a selfish deadbeat must seem puzzling to you, but your role here is not to fix her life.
—Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 18 Aug. 2022
Her choice to martyr herself to a husband who sounds like a selfish deadbeat must seem puzzling to you, but your role here is not to fix her life.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022
Her choice to martyr herself to a husband who sounds like a selfish deadbeat must seem puzzling to you, but your role here is not to fix her life.
—Amy Dickinson, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022
Her choice to martyr herself to a husband who sounds like a selfish deadbeat must seem puzzling to you, but your role here is not to fix her life.
—Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2022
Her choice to martyr herself to a husband who sounds like a selfish deadbeat must seem puzzling to you, but your role here is not to fix her life.
—Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 18 Aug. 2022
As for the food and cleanup, don’t martyr yourself.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 24 July 2022
Catanzara’s potential ouster as a Chicago police officer could also martyr him to supporters in the FOP who see him as an outspoken foe of the Lightfoot administration.
—Jeremy Gorner, chicagotribune.com, 14 Nov. 2021
Ursula, legend holds, was a British princess martyred in Germany in the 4th century, along with as many as 11,000 of her holy companions.
—T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 27 May 2020
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'martyr.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek martyr-, martys witness
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of martyr was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing martyr
Dictionary Entries Near martyr
Cite this Entry
“Martyr.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martyr. Accessed 8 Feb. 2023.
Kids Definition
martyr
1 of 2 noun
mar·tyr
ˈmärt-ər 
martyr
2 of 2 verb
More from Merriam-Webster on martyr
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for martyr
Nglish: Translation of martyr for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of martyr for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about martyr
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