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, noun

Example sentences from the Web for victim

British Dictionary definitions for 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