English Reference
noun

victim

n.
US /ˈvɪktəm/ UK /vˈɪktɪm/ vic·tim UK spelling victim's, victim's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    someone who has been hurt, killed, or has suffered because of a crime, an accident, or a disaster.

    a person who has come to feel the injurious effects of a crime, accident, or other adverse circumstance.

    Simple

    The police are still looking for the person who attacked the victim in the park.

    In context

    Emergency services worked through the night to identify the victims of the train derailment and notify their next of kin.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    someone who is tricked or treated unfairly by another person.

    an individual who is subjected to oppression, deceit, or exploitation.

    Simple

    He was the victim of a scam that cost him all his savings.

    In context

    The investigation revealed that several elderly residents had fallen victim to a sophisticated phishing scheme targeting their pension accounts.

    tricksterexploiter
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency LiteraryArchaic Religion

    a living thing that is killed as an offering to a god in a religious ceremony.

    a living creature slain and offered as a sacrifice in a religious rite.

    Simple

    In the ancient story, they chose a white bull as the victim for the ceremony.

    In context

    The high priest approached the altar where the ritual victim lay prepared for the solstice invocation.


From Middle French victime, from Latin victima (“sacrificial animal”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin victima
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated