victim
B2neutral
Definition
Meaning
A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, disaster, or other harmful event or action.
A person or thing adversely affected by a situation, circumstance, or a system; someone who is tricked, deceived, or exploited.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word strongly implies a lack of control, passivity, or undeserved suffering. It can also be used metaphorically for objects or systems that fail (e.g., 'the car was a victim of rust').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Minor usage difference: 'Victim of its own success' is slightly more frequent in UK corpus data.
Connotations
Identical connotations. The term is equally associated with sympathy, tragedy, and vulnerability in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
victim of (crime/circumstance)victim to (disease/disaster)fall victim toVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “fall victim to something”
- “a victim of its own success”
- “play the victim”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The company became a victim of market volatility.'
Academic
Common in sociology, criminology, and psychology: 'studies on the reintegration of crime victims.'
Everyday
Most common use: referring to people affected by misfortune or crime. 'She was a victim of fraud.'
Technical
In IT/security: 'The victim's computer was infected with malware.' In law: 'The rights of the victim.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The term 'to victim' is not standard. Use 'victimise' (UK) or 'victimize' (US).
American English
- The term 'to victim' is not standard. Use 'victimize'.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly derived. 'Victimisingly' is extremely rare and non-standard.
American English
- Not commonly derived. 'Victimizingly' is extremely rare and non-standard.
adjective
British English
- victim-led support services
- a victim mentality
American English
- victim-centered approach
- victim mentality
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The firefighter helped the victim of the accident.
- She was the victim of a theft.
- Many people fall victim to online scams every year.
- The victim identified the thief in a police lineup.
- The new policy was designed to protect the rights of victims in court.
- He refused to see himself as a mere victim of circumstance.
- The charity provides counselling for victims of traumatic events.
- The theory argues that certain social groups are systematically victimised by the economic structure.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: VICTIM = VI(olent) CT (crime) IM(pact). The violent impact of a crime creates a victim.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A STRUGGLE / A BATTLE (where one can be a victim). SOCIETY IS A SYSTEM (that produces victims).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'жертва' in contexts of 'sacrifice' (e.g., 'the sacrifice of time' ≠ 'victim of time').
- In Russian, 'жертва' can be more active (a volunteer sacrifice); in English, 'victim' is almost always passive.
- Do not use 'victim' for 'sacrificial offering' (e.g., an animal).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He victimed the robbery.' (No common verb form). Correct: 'He was a victim of the robbery.'
- Confusing 'victim' with 'casualty' (which is more often used in accidents/war).
- Overusing 'victim' in non-serious contexts, which can seem insensitive.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST appropriate synonym for 'victim' in a legal context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used metaphorically for animals, objects, organisations, or even ideas (e.g., 'the classic car was a victim of neglect,' 'truth is often the first victim of war').
'Victim' emphasizes the harm suffered and passivity. 'Survivor' emphasizes endurance, agency, and moving past the event. Usage can be sensitive; 'survivor' is often preferred by individuals and advocacy groups.
Not in standard modern English. The correct verb forms are 'victimize' (US) or 'victimise' (UK), meaning to single someone out for cruel or unfair treatment.
Yes, the idiom 'play the victim' (or 'victim mentality') is highly pejorative. It accuses someone of exaggerating or falsely claiming victimhood to avoid responsibility or gain sympathy.
Collections
Part of a collection
Crime and Justice
B1 · 46 words · Vocabulary for law, crime and the justice system.