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
Spohr died after being shot once in the head during the burglary at the couple’s Homewood residence on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, the victims’ family has said.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Feb. 2026
If pulled out within 15 minutes, the Utah Avalanche Center says, 93% of avalanche victims live.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
The 83-year-old and her View cohosts — whom have long spoken at the Hot Topics table in support of Epstein's victims — discussed Thursday additional reactions to the Justice Department's handling of the ongoing controversy.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
The calls follow a Los Angeles Times report Thursday that revealed a range of complaints among more than a dozen fire victims over how the state insurance department has handled their claims since the January wildfires.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
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Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Feb. 2026
If pulled out within 15 minutes, the Utah Avalanche Center says, 93% of avalanche victims live.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
The 83-year-old and her View cohosts — whom have long spoken at the Hot Topics table in support of Epstein's victims — discussed Thursday additional reactions to the Justice Department's handling of the ongoing controversy.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
The calls follow a Los Angeles Times report Thursday that revealed a range of complaints among more than a dozen fire victims over how the state insurance department has handled their claims since the January wildfires.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 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 22 Feb. 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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