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
Midland Memorial Hospital received nine of the victims connected to the active shooter incident.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 13 June 2026
The pope also met abuse survivors privately and urged Spain’s bishops to listen to victims and make reparations.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
The company is being sued by seven families of the victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, which took place in Canada in February.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 13 June 2026
The Orange County Fire Authority treated the victim at the scene and took them to the hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 13 June 2026
The pope also met abuse survivors privately and urged Spain’s bishops to listen to victims and make reparations.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
The company is being sued by seven families of the victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, which took place in Canada in February.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 13 June 2026
The Orange County Fire Authority treated the victim at the scene and took them to the hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 13 June 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 17 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
