What does "martyr" mean?
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.
Martyr
/ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: 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.
- Grammar: martyr is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: martyrize, sufferer, afflict, agonize.
- Useful contrasts: apostate, confessor, demean.
- Usage evidence: In a few moments you'll become either a holy martyr or a dead witch.
How to use "martyr"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "martyr" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "martyr" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "martyr" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "martyr" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "martyr" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "martyrize" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "martyr", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 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.
"Saint Stephen was the first Christian martyr."
- 2 one who suffers for the sake of principle wordnet
- 3 One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause. broadly
- 4 one who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty for refusing to renounce their religion wordnet
- 5 One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.
"Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy. derogatory
"You have a great life! Stop trying to play the martyr!"
Verb
- 1 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. transitive
"Fr. Felipe Císcar Puig was a Valencian priest who is also also considered a martyr of the sacramental seal because he was martyred after keeping confessions secret during the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War."
- 2 torture and torment like a martyr wordnet
- 3 To persecute. transitive
"Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction."
- 4 kill as a martyr wordnet
- 5 To torment; to torture. transitive
"Hark, wretches, how I mean to martyr you. This one hand yet is left to cut your throats, Whiles that Lavinia ’tween her stumps doth hold The basin that receives your guilty blood."
Example
"In a few moments you'll become either a holy martyr or a dead witch."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "martyr"?
Common synonyms include: martyrize, sufferer, afflict, agonize, ail, angel.
How do you use "martyr" in a sentence?
In a few moments you'll become either a holy martyr or a dead witch.
How do you pronounce "martyr"?
Pronounced /ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
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”).