Words / B1

VIKT-im/ˈvɪktɪm/

A victim is a person harmed by a crime, accident, or disaster: flood victims; the victim of a scam; fall victim to. Survivor stresses that the person lived through it; casualty is more news/military. Victim is not used for objects. Victim support is a public-service phrase. A common error is using victim for someone who merely lost a game.

Meaning

A person who has been hurt or has suffered because of something.

Examples

• “The victims of the flood need help.”
• “The victims were given food and blankets.”
• “Small shops have fallen victim to online competition.”

Good to know

a victim of + noun. fall victim to. Lived through it: survivor. News/military: casualty.

Near in meaning

casualty

New