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
Family members of the shooting victims cried as the sentence was handed down.
—
Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
The victim was taken to Hartford Hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to state police.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Efficient courts serve everyone; victims, defendants, attorneys, and court staff by promoting timely, respectful, and just outcomes.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
At the same time, because the Soviet state refused to distinguish Jewish victims killed as Jews from the totality of civilian losses during the war, the euphemism ends up naming what it was designed to erase.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
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Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
The victim was taken to Hartford Hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to state police.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Efficient courts serve everyone; victims, defendants, attorneys, and court staff by promoting timely, respectful, and just outcomes.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
At the same time, because the Soviet state refused to distinguish Jewish victims killed as Jews from the totality of civilian losses during the war, the euphemism ends up naming what it was designed to erase.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
Cite this Entry
“Victim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victim. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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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