martyr

noun mar·tyr \ ˈmär-tər \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of martyr

1 : a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion

2 : a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle

a martyr to the cause of freedom

3 : victim; especially : a great or constant sufferer

a martyr to asthma all his life
—A. J. Cronin

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martyrization

play \ˌmär-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

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martyrize

play \ˈmär-tə-ˌrīz\ transitive verb

See martyr defined for English-language learners

See martyr defined for kids

Recent Examples of martyr from the Web

But that imagined martyr role doesn’t last, or carry any real heft.

— phil rosenthal, chicagotribune.com, "Matt Spiegel thanks WSCR listeners; explains 'a new boss gets to do what he wants'," 21 Mar. 2018
In 1883, José Rizal, the future hero and martyr of the Philippine Revolution, was a homesick medical student abroad in Madrid.

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "Filipino Food Finds a Place in the American Mainstream," 12 Mar. 2018
The Polish antifa was a foot soldier, a militant, a martyr for a noble cause.

— jason christian, The New Republic, "Confessions of a Former Left-Wing Gun Nut," 29 Mar. 2018
Despite the deaths associated with Upper Big Branch, to a lot of West Virginians, Blankenship is more martyr than villain.

— tim loh, Bloomberg.com, "The Ex-Con Coal Baron Running for Senate in West Virginia," 19 Mar. 2018
About the arrest, originally this was seen as a martyr and an innocent person, and that is because the media is always desperate to find their poster child for their specific issue.

— Fox News, "President Trump's CIA pick faces questions over her role in enhanced interrogation program," 14 Mar. 2018
This is about meeting his needs within the realistic demands of family and work — not about your being a martyr.

— tehrene firman, Redbook, "10 Ways to Tell Him You Love Him Without Words," 8 Sep. 2017
Christians often hear sermons about prominent men in the New Testament: the Twelve Apostles, Stephen the martyr, men such as Barnabas and Timothy who risked their lives alongside the Apostle Paul.

— john blake, CNN, "How Easter became a #MeToo moment," 30 Mar. 2018
In some schools, teachers see themselves as martyrs in a hopeless cause.

— david brooks | opinion, Anchorage Daily News, "Good leaders make good schools," 19 Mar. 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of martyr

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek martyr-, martys witness

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

martyr

verb

Definition of martyr

transitive verb

1 : to put to death for adhering to a belief, faith, or profession

2 : to inflict agonizing pain on : torture

See martyr defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of martyr from the Web

The end of Jesus Christ Superstar (spoiler alert?) shows the horror of the crucifixion, with Jesus betrayed and martyred on the cross.

— caroline framke, Vox, "The electric spectacle of Jesus Christ Superstar Live, in one shot," 2 Apr. 2018
The Roman Martyrology, the official record of Catholic saints, lists several that were named Valentine, two of whom were martyred on February 14, but there are no existing contemporary records of these events.

— jeff suess, Cincinnati.com, "The origin of Valentine's Day isn't what you think," 14 Feb. 2018
So the Bitcoin faithful have tried to not only convert people, but also convince them to martyr themselves, financially-speaking, for the crypto cause.

— greg larose, NOLA.com, "Stein Mart to close Tchoupitoulas Street store in February," 28 Dec. 2017
Match participants reckon with this peculiar fraction of agency—too little to guarantee a happy ending, too much to feel martyred by a sad one.

— nitin k. ahuja, Slate Magazine, "Match Game," 17 Mar. 2017
Jack Marburger martyred himself for science and for his country.

— brian palmer, Slate Magazine, "Donald Trump Should Not Appoint a Science Adviser," 21 Apr. 2017
In pious tradition, Peter preceded him to Rome and both were martyred there.

— nicholas frankovich, National Review, "All Americans Are a Little Italian, Christians Are Spiritually Jewish," 21 Sep. 2017
Twitter Facebook − + Jeffrey Stewart • 6 days ago Describe in your own way how one individual affects you so? Please martyr yourself.

— alexandra holterman, Billboard, "Eminem Leads Reading Festival Crowd in 'F--k Trump' Chant," 28 Aug. 2017
Griffin, who made her career by mocking celebrities, is not the most likely comedian to be martyred over the inalienable right to criticize the president.

— yashar ali, The Cut, "Off With Her Head," 27 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of martyr

see ¹martyr

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

MARTYR Defined for English Language Learners

martyr

noun

Definition of martyr for English Language Learners

: a person who is killed or who suffers greatly for a religion, cause, etc.
: a person who pretends to suffer or who exaggerates suffering in order to get praise or sympathy
: a person who suffers greatly from something (such as an illness)