HOW TO PRONOUNCE
martyr
/ˈmɑɹ.tɚ/
Press play to hear how to pronounce martyr.
American Pronunciation Guide · 1:13
Watch on YouTube ↗
Watch on YouTube ↗
What does martyr mean?
noun
- 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.
- One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.
- One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.
More meanings (4)
verb
- 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.
- To persecute.
- To torment; to torture.
noun
- (derogatory) Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈmɑɹ.tɚ/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
This made him appear a battered martyr, parting every day with some of the finest gold, in the service of mankind.
It must not be forgotten that the persecutor and the martyr are but one and the same man under different circumstances.
More book examples (3)
“St. Clare always laughs when I make the least allusion to my ill health,” said Marie, with the voice of a suffering martyr.
Their ignorance sold its vote and took its money, but all that was left of manhood in them recognized its saint and martyr.
Like a plethoric burning martyr, or a self-consuming misanthrope, once ignited, the whale supplies his own fuel and burns by his own body.