First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
victim
noun vic·tim \ˈvik-təm\
: a person who has been attacked, injured, robbed, or killed by someone else
: a person who is cheated or fooled by someone else
: someone or something that is harmed by an unpleasant event (such as an illness or accident)
Full Definition of VICTIM
1
: a living being sacrificed to a deity or in the performance of a religious rite
2
: one that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent <the schools are victims of the social system>: 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>
— vic·tim·hood \-ˌhu̇d\ noun
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Origin of VICTIM
Latin victima; perhaps akin to Old High German wīh holy
Rhymes with VICTIM
VICTIM Defined for Kids
victim
noun vic·tim \ˈvik-təm\
Definition of VICTIM for Kids
1
: a person who is cheated, fooled, or hurt by another
2
: an individual injured or killed (as by disease, violence, or disaster)
3
: a person or animal offered as a religious sacrifice
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