victim

1 of 2

noun (1)

vic·​tim ˈvik-təm 

1

: one that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent

the schools are victims of the social system

: such as

a(1)

: one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of various conditions

a victim of cancer

a victim of the auto crash

a murder victim

(2)

: one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment

a frequent victim of political attacks

b

: one that is tricked or duped

a con man's victim

2

: a living being sacrificed to a deity or in the performance of a religious rite

victimhood

ˈvik-təm-ˌhu̇d 

noun

victimhood

2 of 2

noun (2)

vic·​tim·​hood ˈviktə̇mˌhu̇d 

: the state or condition of being a victim

Synonyms of victim

Noun (1)

• fatality
• casualty
• prey

Examples of victim in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the victims of a hoax

He was the victim of an error.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Investigators determined the victim was Edgar Carlos Garcia, then 39, of Mexico, who died after sustaining fatal injuries during an altercation that took place inside the warehouse. —Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2026

The Israeli strikes killed five people around the town of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, according to the official news agency NNA, and the army said a soldier was along the victims. —Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 20 June 2026

Rogness is charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact and one count of tampering with a witness, victim or informant. —Angela George, USA Today, 19 June 2026

Several people in the video referenced victims trapped beneath the vehicle. —Doug Myers, CBS News, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin victima; perhaps akin to Old High German wīh holy

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing victim

• fall victim to
• fashion victim
• victim mentality

Rhymes for victim

• dictum

Kids Definition

victim

noun

vic·​tim ˈvik-təm 

1

: a living being offered as a sacrifice in a religious rite

2

: an individual injured or killed (as by disease or accident)

3

: a person cheated, fooled, or harmed by another