VICTIM

victim

(noun) an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance

victim, dupe

(noun) a person who is tricked or swindled

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

victim (plural victims)

One that is harmed—killed, injured, subjected to oppression, deceived, or otherwise adversely affected—by someone or something, especially another person or event, force, or condition; in particular

One who is harmed or killed by a crime or scam.

One who is harmed or killed by an accident or illness.

One who is harmed or killed as a result of other people's biases, emotions or incompetence, or their own.

One who is harmed or killed as a result of a natural or man-made disaster or impersonal condition.

A living being which is slain and offered as a sacrifice, usually in a religious rite.

(by extension, Christianity) The transfigured body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

Usage notes

Many people advise against describing a disabled person as being a victim of the condition that relates to their status as a disabled person and suggest describing a disabled person as having or experiencing that condition instead.

Synonyms

• injured party

Antonyms

• offender

Source: Wiktionary

Vic"tim, n. Etym: [L. victima: cf. F. victime.]

1. A living being sacrificed to some deity, or in the performance of a religious rite; a creature immolated, or made an offering of. Led like a victim, to my death I'll go. Dryden.

2. A person or thing destroyed or sacrificed in the pursuit of an object, or in gratification of a passion; as, a victim to jealousy, lust, or ambition.

3. A person or living creature destroyed by, or suffering grievous injury from, another, from fortune or from accident; as, the victim of a defaulter; the victim of a railroad accident.

4. Hence, one who is duped, or cheated; a dupe; a gull. [Colloq.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition