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 Wayne County Coroner's Office identified the victims as Hiteshkumar Suthar, Hinaben Suthar and Isha Suthar, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
3 July 2026
Rodríguez said emergency economic measures will include relief funds for victims and temporary waivers on documentation and property registration fees to facilitate housing relocation.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2026
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in the new filing defended his agency’s decision to withhold millions of investigative files, saying that releasing more materials would harm Epstein’s victims and the government.
—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
Lee learned much about the systemic oppression that Black Americans faced from his first student, Jesse Glover, who had been a victim of police brutality.
—
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
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show current usage.
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Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
3 July 2026
Rodríguez said emergency economic measures will include relief funds for victims and temporary waivers on documentation and property registration fees to facilitate housing relocation.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2026
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in the new filing defended his agency’s decision to withhold millions of investigative files, saying that releasing more materials would harm Epstein’s victims and the government.
—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
Lee learned much about the systemic oppression that Black Americans faced from his first student, Jesse Glover, who had been a victim of police brutality.
—
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 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 5 Jul. 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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