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 family is seeking separate payouts of at least $25,000 from all four companies for each of the three victims, according to the lawsuit, aiming for at least $300,000 in cumulative damages.
—
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
The numbers of victims far exceeded those of military regimes in Chile and Argentina.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
All three victims were found dead from gunshot wounds in the car.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
My heart aches for those who knew and loved Gabriela, Florinda, and Jeanette, as well as the additional victim, and are now in mourning this Easter weekend.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for victim
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.
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
The numbers of victims far exceeded those of military regimes in Chile and Argentina.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
All three victims were found dead from gunshot wounds in the car.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
My heart aches for those who knew and loved Gabriela, Florinda, and Jeanette, as well as the additional victim, and are now in mourning this Easter weekend.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 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 24 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share