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

For those of us still mourning the end of The Vampire Lestat, thankfully, AMC is releasing a whole concert of the bratty vampire in performance at the Beacon Theatre. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026

Bedbugs are sometimes called the vampires of the insect world — hiding during the day and coming out at night to feast on human blood. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Critics and audiences alike went gaga over Sam Reid’s glammed-out turn as a bloodthirsty vampire gone rock star in AMC’s The Vampire Lestat. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026

The 1994 classic, an adaptation of Anne Rice‘s 1976 novel, featured Louis (Brad Pitt) telling the story of how he was turned into a vampire by Lestat (Tom Cruise). — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

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