martyr
n. countablen. someone who suffers or dies for their beliefs, especially religious or political ones. You can also use it to describe someone who pretends to suffer to get sympathy from others.
n. a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion or a cause. In a secular sense, refers to an individual who sacrifices their life or well-being for a principle or to elicit sympathy.
He died a martyr for his religious beliefs.
The political activist was viewed as a martyr by his followers after his long imprisonment.
Historical accounts often romanticize the figure of the martyr, transforming individual suffering into a powerful symbol of collective resistance against an oppressive regime.
Often followed by the preposition 'for' to indicate the cause or belief being defended.