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

• bloodsucker
• buzzard
• harpy
• kite
• predator
• shark
• vulture
• wolf

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

As for Huart, the multi-hyphenate has become one of the more exciting up-and-coming filmmakers in the genre realm and recently won the Midnight Short Jury Award at SXSW 2024 for his modern vampire story Transylvanie. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 17 June 2025

This vampire isn't interested in the blood that runs through your veins, though. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 June 2025

After adapting Viking mythology and a classic vampire tale, Robert Eggers has set his sights on Charles Dickens. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 11 June 2025

There’s young vampires, there’s not straight vampires. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 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