victim
[ vik-tim ]
/ ˈvɪk tɪm /
noun
a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or agency: a victim of an automobile accident.
a person who is deceived or cheated, as by his or her own emotions or ignorance, by the dishonesty of others, or by some impersonal agency: a victim of misplaced confidence; the victim of a swindler; a victim of an optical illusion.
a person or animal sacrificed or regarded as sacrificed: war victims.
a living creature sacrificed in religious rites.
Origin of victim
First recorded in 1490–1500,
victim is from the Latin word
victima sacrificial animal
OTHER WORDS FROM victim
vic·tim·hood, noun vic·tim·less, adjective non·vic·tim, nounWords nearby victim
vicomtesse,
vicontiel,
vicq d'azyr's bundle,
vict.,
victa,
victim,
victimize,
victimless crime,
victimology,
victoire,
victor
British Dictionary definitions for non-victim
victim
/ (ˈvɪktɪm) /
noun
a person or thing that suffers harm, death, etc, from another or from some adverse act, circumstance, etc
victims of tyranny
a person who is tricked or swindled; dupe
a living person or animal sacrificed in a religious rite
Word Origin for victim
C15: from Latin
victima
usage for victim
Using the word
victim or
victims in relation to chronic illness or disability is often considered demeaning and disempowering. Alternative phrases such as
who experiences,
who has been diagnosed with, or simply
with and then the name of the disability or illness, can be used instead