vampire

noun

vam·​pire ˈvam-ˌpī(-ə)r 

1

: the reanimated body of a dead person believed to come from the grave at night and suck the blood of persons asleep

2

a

: one who lives by preying on others

b

: a woman who exploits and ruins her lover

3

: vampire bat

vampiric

vam-ˈpir-ik 

adjective

vampirish

ˈvam-ˌpī(-ə)r-ish 

adjective

Synonyms

• predator
• shark

Examples of vampire in a Sentence

regarded debt collectors as vampires who made a living from the misery of others

Recent Examples on the Web

Mel Jarnson is no stranger to video game adaptations, having starred in 2021's Mortal Kombat as the vampire Nitara. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025

All 500-year-old vampires will be able to watch Talamasca on their television sets in linear fashion on AMC. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025

In the two minute trailer (below), the death of someone close to a secret society charged with monitoring the world’s immortals, including witches and vampires, prompts the group to seek out a new recruit in the form of a young unsuspecting man, Guy Anatole (Nicholas Denton). —Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025

In addition, Schwartzman portrays Burton, a rakish vampire leading a cloistered life in an Upper West Side penthouse, while Bogosian plays Daniel Molloy, and Kirk is Talamasca agent Raglan James. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, borrowed from German Vampir, borrowed from Serbian vampir

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vampire

• vampire bat

Kids Definition

vampire

noun

vam·​pire ˈvam-ˌpī(ə)r 

1

: the body of a dead person believed to come from the grave at night and suck the blood of sleeping persons

2

: vampire bat

Medical Definition

vampire

noun

vam·​pire ˈvam-ˌpī(ə)r 

: vampire bat