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.
Hallmarks of the best Halloween travel destinations usually entail a moody fall landscape, local legends that involve a tetchy ghost, vampire, or other variety of ominous being, and themed activities like pumpkin patches and cemetery tours. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025 The wonderfully ridiculous brainchild of co-stars/directors Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, the mockumentary follows a group of vampires living in an apartment in New Zealand and struggling with the idiosyncrasies of modern times. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025 This is the essence of the palpable belief in the vampire. Robert Eggers, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025 Van Helsing, the resident vampire expert (who’s traditionally played by a man) is played by Severo herself. Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 17 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 21 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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