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
Examples of victim in a Sentence
the victims of a hoax
He was the victim of an error.
Recent Examples on the Web
The 8-year-old victim attended a local school and had a parent who worked for Stockton Unified School District, according to Mayor Christina Fugazi.
—
Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Yes, victims deserve to be compensated for corporate bad behavior, as a matter of justice and to deter dangerous and unlawful behavior.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
During the trial, Lor’s attorney argued his client shouldn’t be found guilty because the email was not sent directly to the school and did not specifically threaten the school’s principal, Harmeena Omoto, who was listed in a criminal complaint as the victim.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
Deputies responded after multiple 911 calls reported gunfire and victims, including juveniles.
—Kathleen Quinn, Sacbee.com, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for victim
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Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Yes, victims deserve to be compensated for corporate bad behavior, as a matter of justice and to deter dangerous and unlawful behavior.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
During the trial, Lor’s attorney argued his client shouldn’t be found guilty because the email was not sent directly to the school and did not specifically threaten the school’s principal, Harmeena Omoto, who was listed in a criminal complaint as the victim.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
Deputies responded after multiple 911 calls reported gunfire and victims, including juveniles.
—Kathleen Quinn, Sacbee.com, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for victim
Cite this Entry
“Victim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victim. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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