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 of vampire

• 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

The actor gained increasing fame in his early 20s for playing Twilight's Edward Cullen, an immortal vampire who appears to be a teenager throughout the film series. —Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025

On the previous episode, the stars danced spooky routines as ghosts, zombies, vampires and more for Halloween Night. —Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025

Helen explains that the London mother house is compromised by a vampire named Jasper and (after some prodding) that Guy’s mother is a fugitive from the Talamasca who’s connected in some nebulous way to the 752. —Lily Osler, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025

Janelle Monáe as a retro vampire Suddenly, the biter has become the bitten at Vampire Beach. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Nov. 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