martyr

1 of 2

noun

mar·​tyr ˈmär-tər 

1

: a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion

2

: a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle

a martyr to the cause of freedom

3

: victim

especially : a great or constant sufferer

a martyr to asthma all his life

—A. J. Cronin

martyrization

ˌmär-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

martyrize

ˈmär-tə-ˌrīz 

transitive verb

martyr

2 of 2

verb

martyred; martyring; martyrs

transitive verb

1

: to put to death for adhering to a belief, faith, or profession

2

: to inflict agonizing pain on : torture

Examples of martyr in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But in streamlining their story to emphasize the tragedies that accrue as time goes on, the film risks reducing its characters into martyrs who suffer and die on behalf of toxic masculinity. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 10 May 2024

The regime’s strategy of incremental violence has so far caused the death of more than 500 people, enough to generate martyrs but not sufficient to deter the protest movement. —Eric Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2023

Verb

The big baby did indeed martyr himself by sleeping on what looks like a very uncomfortable couch last night despite their home probably having a dozen other bedrooms available. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 June 2024

The former president recently ramped up his rhetoric of victimhood, hyperbolically linking himself to the struggles of famed South African leader Nelson Mandela against apartheid and sharing a supporter's comparison of his legal troubles to how Jesus Christ was martyred by the Romans. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek martyr-, martys witness

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing martyr

• play the martyr

Kids Definition

martyr

1 of 2 noun

mar·​tyr ˈmärt-ər 

1

: a person who suffers death rather than give up his or her religion

2

: one who sacrifices life or something of great value for a principle or cause

3

: a person who suffers greatly

martyr

2 of 2 verb

1

: to put to death for refusing to give up a belief

2

: torture entry 2