victims - Master This Word
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victims Word Meanings
- a person harmed by an act or event
- someone who suffers from a harmful action
- a target of crime or misfortune
victims Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
victims Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈvɪktɪm/
US
/ˈvɪktɪm/
victims Word Etymology
victim = vincere (to conquer) + -im (suffix used to form nouns); Latin → Old French → English. Imagine a person defeated in a battle, lying on the ground and seen as overcome, signifying vulnerability or loss.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I step forward and set my hand on a cool railing, steadying myself as the crowd surges. A shove from behind sends me off balance; I pull my feet back, shift my weight, and push against the wall to stay upright. The ache blooms a little and the effort tightens my chest as I hold steady. Later I realize how a single moment can change someone’s path—how a person becomes the victim of a random turn of events.
Real Context
Victim is a noun for a person harmed by an act or event, such as a crime, accident, illness, or natural disaster. It foregrounds harm and vulnerability, not guilt. You can say someone is a victim of burglary, fraud, or bullying, and you can also speak of victims’ rights or the experiences of victims in news reports. The term can describe the person directly affected or someone who bears consequences later. In legal and journalistic English you may hear 'the victim testified' or 'victim of a crime.' Be careful not to use it to describe someone who caused harm; that would be counterintuitive or wrong.
Usage Reminders
- 1) Use 'victim of' with a specific harm event. 2) Do not imply guilt of the victim. 3) Pair with concrete nouns: crime, accident, disaster. 4) Distinguish from 'victimize' (to cause harm) 5) Be mindful of plural 'victims' 6) Watch collocations: crime victims rights, victims’ testimony
Common Misconceptions
- A victim is always weak or passive.
- Victim and culprit refer to the same person.
- Being a victim means you deserved what happened.
- The word only applies to crime, not accidents or disasters.
- Being a victim is a permanent identity.
Thinking Differences
For English speakers, victim tends to center the harmed person and their experience; learners often mix it with blame, or think it marks a permanent identity. Remember it is neutral in most contexts and contrasts with a perpetrator.
Learning Tips
- Keep a short glossary of common collocations: victim of a crime, victims’ rights, crime victims.
- Distinguish 'victim' from 'perpetrator' and from verbs like 'victimize'.
- Note gender neutrality and use neutral tone in reporting.
- Practice using 'the victim' vs 'a victim' in context.
- Learn common legal/news phrases involving victims.
- Be mindful of cultural sensitivities around harm and trauma.
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
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