vampire

noun

vam·​pire ˈvam-ˌpī(-ə)r How to pronounce vampire (audio)
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
vampiric adjective
vampirish adjective

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
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.
In Anne Rice lore, Akasha is known as the progenitor of all vampires. Andy Swift, TVLine, 10 Oct. 2025 The final third of the book seamlessly cranks up the action when tracker vampire James and his bloodthirsty cronies, Laurent and Victoria, take an unsavory interest in Bella. USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 Probably Solomon Kane was the biggest [influence] besides Conan, this kind of mashup of puritan warrior priest and vampires and monsters and the undead and all these things. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Oct. 2025 The 1987 horror-comedy, directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Richard Donner, follows two teenage brothers who move with their divorced mother to the fictional town of Santa Carla, California, only to discover that the town is a haven for vampires. Greg Evans, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vampire

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of vampire was in 1732

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vampire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vampire. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

vampire

noun
vam·​pire ˈvam-ˌpī(ə)r How to pronounce vampire (audio)
1
: the body of a dead person believed to come from the grave at night and suck the blood of sleeping persons
2

Medical Definition

vampire

noun
vam·​pire ˈvam-ˌpī(ə)r How to pronounce vampire (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on vampire

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