Word
martyr
Phoneticsmar·tyr
US/ˈmɑɹtɝ/
UK/mˈɑːtɐ/
Definitions
01religious/political death
n. someone who is killed or suffers greatly because of their religious or political beliefs.
n. a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion or a principle.
“The historical figure became a martyr for the cause of national independence.”
“The hagiography details how the saint was revered as a martyr after refusing to renounce his faith despite the threat of execution.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'for'.
03seeking sympathy
n. someone who acts like they are suffering more than they really are to make others feel sorry for them.
n. a person who exaggerates their suffering or performs their duties with a display of hardship to elicit sympathy or guilt from others.
“Stop being such a martyr and just ask for help with the dishes.”
“Her constant sighs and complaints about the workload were seen as a martyr act by her colleagues, who were equally busy.”
Informal · Humorous
Teaching tip
This sense is often used sarcastically to criticize someone's behavior.
Synonyms
04to kill for beliefs
v. to kill someone because of their beliefs.
v. to put someone to death for adhering to a belief, especially a religious one.
“The rebels were martyred for their role in the uprising.”
“The regime sought to suppress the movement by martyring its leaders, but the strategy backfired by galvanizing public support.”
Formal
Real-World Examples
“But other parents, like Texas mother Russell, railed against "toxic empathy", insisting Clancy was "not a martyr or a symbol for tired mums".” “After he was shot in Las Vegas on 7 September 1996, he became immortalised as a kind of martyr for the lifestyle he helped make famous.” Word family
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/martyr