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
With Edgewater in the flood zone and Station 42 and Three Rock in disaster response mode, Bode (Max Thieriot) was on a side quest to make amends with Danny Marks (Mike O'Malley), a victim of Bode's criminal past.
—
Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third later died at the University of New Mexico Hospital.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
No doubt, many reading this have had their own close calls or are victims of wayward e-bikes.
—Michael Miller, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
Since the flood, the Eastland family has come under intensifying criticism from families of the victims and Texas lawmakers.
—Jim Vertuno, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
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Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third later died at the University of New Mexico Hospital.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
No doubt, many reading this have had their own close calls or are victims of wayward e-bikes.
—Michael Miller, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
Since the flood, the Eastland family has come under intensifying criticism from families of the victims and Texas lawmakers.
—Jim Vertuno, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 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 24 May. 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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