Definition of "martyr" in English

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. (by extension) One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.

3. (with a prepositional phrase of cause) One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.

   • Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it.

4. (derogatory) Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.

   • You have a great life! Stop trying to play the martyr!

verb

1. (transitive) 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.

2. (transitive) To persecute.

   • Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction.

3. (transitive) To torment; to torture.