Added 9 October 2026
martyr
/ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/ noun
Latin root: martyr Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about martyr at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
One who willingly accepts being put to death or willingly accepts challenging and exposing iniquity done to oneself for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after red martyrdom.
The apostle Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
- One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.
-
One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.
Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris is a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it.
verb
- To make someone into a martyr by putting them to death for adhering to, or acting in accordance with, some belief, especially religious; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
-
To persecute.
Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction.
- To torment; to torture.
Origin
From Middle English martir, from Old English martyr, itself a borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin martyr, from Ancient Greek μάρτυρ (mártur), later form of μάρτυς (mártus, “witness”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)