noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Australian:/ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/
Australian:[ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)]
Australian:[ˈmɐːɾə(ɹ)]
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmɑːtə(ɹ)/
General-American:/ˈmɑɹ.tɚ/
General-American:[ˈmɑɹ.ɾɚ]
rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)tə(ɹ)
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:M AA1 R T ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The apostle Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris is a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory
Examples
You have a great life! Stop trying to play the martyr!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To persecute.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To torment; to torture.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
one who suffers for the sake of principle
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sufferer
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: victim
Narrower terms: shaheed, Tyndale, William Tyndale, Tindale, William Tindale, Tindal, William Tindal
9
noun
Meaning 9
one who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty for refusing to renounce their religion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: victim
Narrower terms: Polycarp, Saint Polycarp, St. Polycarp, Becket, Thomas a Becket, Saint Thomas a Becket, St. Thomas a Becket, George, Saint George, St. George, Jeanne d'Arc, Joan of Arc, Saint Joan, Lawrence, Saint Lawrence, St. Lawrence, Laurentius, Vitus, St. Vitus
10
verb
Meaning 10
torture and torment like a martyr
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: martyrize, martyrise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: torture, excruciate, torment
11
verb
Meaning 11
kill as a martyr
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Saint Sebastian was martyred
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: kill
History
Etymology
From Middle English martir, from Old English martyr, itself a borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin martyr, from Ancient Greek μάρτυρ (mártur), later form of μάρτυς (mártus, “witness”).
Across languages
Translations
199 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Albanian:
dëshmor
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Arabic:
شُهَدَاء
(šuhadāʔ)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Arabic:
شَهِيد
(šahīd)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Arabic:
شَهِيدَة
(šahīda)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Aramaic:
ܣܗܕܐ
(sahdah)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Armenian:
մարտիրոս
(martiros)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Armenian:
նահատակ
(nahatak)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Armenian:
վկա
(vka)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Azerbaijani:
şəhid
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Azerbaijani:
əzabkeş
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Bashkir:
шаһит
(şahit)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Belarusian:
паку́тнік
(pakútnik)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Belarusian:
паку́тніца
(pakútnica)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Belarusian:
му́чальнік
(múčalʹnik)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Belarusian:
му́чальніца
(múčalʹnica)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Belarusian:
му́чанік
(múčanik)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Belarusian:
му́чаніца
(múčanica)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Bengali:
শহীদ
(śohid)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Bulgarian:
мъчени́к
(mǎčeník)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Bulgarian:
мъчени́чка
(mǎčeníčka)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Bulgarian:
мъчени́ца
(mǎčeníca)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Catalan:
màrtir
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Chechen:
ӏазапхо
(ˀazapxo)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Chinese Mandarin:
烈士
(lièshì)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Chinese Mandarin:
殉道者
(xùndàozhě)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Czech:
mučedník
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Czech:
mučednice
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Danish:
martyr
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Dutch:
martelaar
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Dutch:
martelares
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Erzya:
майсиця
(majsića)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Esperanto:
martiro
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Estonian:
märter
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Finnish:
marttyyri
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Finnish:
shahid
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
French:
martyr
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
French:
martyre
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
French:
chahîd
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
French:
chahid
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Galician:
mártir
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Georgian:
წამებული
(c̣amebuli)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Georgian:
მოწამე
(moc̣ame)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Georgian:
მარტვილი
(marṭvili)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
German:
Märtyrer
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
German:
Märtyrerin
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Gothic:
𐌼𐌰𐍂𐍄𐍅𐍂
(martwr)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Greek:
μάρτυρας
(mártyras)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Hebrew:
קָדֹושׁ
(kadósh)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Hebrew:
מַרְטִיר
(martír)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Hebrew:
שָׁהִיד
(shahíd)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Hebrew:
קָדֹושׁ מְעֻנֶּה
(kadósh me'uné)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Hindi:
हुतात्मा
(hutātmā)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Hindi:
बलिदानी
(balidānī)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Hindi:
शहीद
(śahīd)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Hungarian:
mártír
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Hungarian:
vértanú
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Icelandic:
píslarvottur
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Indonesian:
syahid
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Indonesian:
martir
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Irish:
mairtíreach
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Italian:
martire
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Japanese:
殉教者
(junkyōsha)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Japanese:
シャヒード
(shahīdo)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Kazakh:
шаһит
(şahit)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Kazakh:
шейіт
(şeiıt)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Korean:
순교자
(sun'gyoja)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Korean:
샤히드
(syahideu)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Kumyk:
шагьит
(şahit)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Northern Kurdish:
şehîd
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Macedonian:
маченик
(mačenik)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Macedonian:
маченичка
(mačenička)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Malay:
syahid
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Malay:
martir
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Malayalam:
രക്തസാക്ഷി
(raktasākṣi)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Malayalam:
സഹദാ
(sahadā)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Māori:
matira
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Norman:
martyr
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Norwegian Bokmål:
martyr
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Church Slavic:
мѫченикъ
(mǫčenikŭ)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Pashto:
شهيد
(šahíd)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Dari:
شَهِید
(šahīd)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Iranian Persian:
شَهید
(šahid)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Polish:
męczennik
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Polish:
męczennica
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Portuguese:
mártir
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Punjabi:
ਸ਼ਹੀਦ
(śahīd)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Romanian:
mucenic
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Romanian:
muceniță
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Russian:
му́ченик
(múčenik)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Russian:
му́ченица
(múčenica)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Russian:
шахи́д
(šaxíd)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Russian:
шахи́дка
(šaxídka)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Scottish Gaelic:
martair
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Serbo-Croatian:
му̏ченӣк
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Serbo-Croatian:
шехид
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Serbo-Croatian:
mȕčenīk
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Serbo-Croatian:
šehid
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Slovak:
mučeník
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Slovak:
mučeníčka
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Slovak:
martýr
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Slovak:
martýrka
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Slovene:
mučenik
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Slovene:
mučenica
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Spanish:
mártir
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Swedish:
martyr
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Tajik:
шаҳид
(šahid)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Tatar:
шаһит
(şahit)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Thai:
มรณสักขี
(mɔɔ-rá-ná-sàk-kǐi)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Turkish:
şehit
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Turkish:
gazi
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Turkish:
şehitler
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Turkish:
gaziler
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Turkish:
mücahit
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Turkish:
mücahid
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Ottoman Turkish:
شهید
(şehid)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Turkmen:
şahit
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Ukrainian:
му́ченик
(múčenyk)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Ukrainian:
му́чениця
(múčenycja)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Urdu:
شَہِید
(śahīd)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Uyghur:
شاھىت
(shahit)
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Uzbek:
shahid
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Volapük:
martüran
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Volapük:
himartüran
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Volapük:
jimartüran
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Welsh:
merthyr
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Zazaki:
şehid
— one willing to be killed or persecuted for religion
Armenian:
նահատակ
(nahatak)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Catalan:
màrtir
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Chinese Mandarin:
烈士
(lièshì)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Danish:
martyr
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Dutch:
martelaar
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Estonian:
märter
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Finnish:
marttyyri
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
French:
martyr
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Greek:
μάρτυρας
(mártyras)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Hindi:
हुतात्मा
(hutātmā)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Hindi:
बलिदानी
(balidānī)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Hindi:
शहीद
(śahīd)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Hungarian:
mártír
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Hungarian:
vértanú
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Italian:
martire
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Japanese:
殉教者
(junkyōsha)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Korean:
순교자
(sun'gyoja)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Malayalam:
രക്തസാക്ഷി
(raktasākṣi)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Norwegian Bokmål:
martyr
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Dari:
شَهِید
(šahīd)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Iranian Persian:
شَهید
(šahid)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Polish:
cierpiętnik
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Polish:
cierpiętnica
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Polish:
męczennik
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Polish:
męczennica
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Portuguese:
mártir
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Romanian:
martir
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Russian:
му́ченик
(múčenik)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Russian:
му́ченица
(múčenica)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Scottish Gaelic:
martair
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Serbo-Croatian:
му̏ченӣк
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Serbo-Croatian:
mȕčenīk
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Spanish:
mártir
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Swedish:
martyr
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Turkish:
şehit
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Urdu:
شَہِید
(śahīd)
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Welsh:
merthyr
— one who sacrifices their life for an important cause
Catalan:
màrtir
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Chinese Mandarin:
受難者 /受难者
(shòunànzhě)
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Danish:
martyr
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Dutch:
martelaar
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Estonian:
märter
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Finnish:
uhri
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
French:
martyr
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Greek:
μάρτυρας
(mártyras)
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Hindi:
बलिदानी
(balidānī)
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Hungarian:
mártír
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Italian:
martire
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Japanese:
受難者
(junansha)
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Malayalam:
രക്തസാക്ഷി
(raktasākṣi)
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Norwegian Bokmål:
martyr
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Portuguese:
mártir
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Russian:
му́ченик
(múčenik)
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Russian:
му́ченица
(múčenica)
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Russian:
страда́лец
(stradálec)
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Russian:
страда́лица
(stradálica)
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Scottish Gaelic:
martair
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Spanish:
mártir
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Swedish:
martyr
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Turkish:
mücahit
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Turkish:
mücahitler
— one who suffers greatly, even involuntarily
Armenian:
նահատակել
(nahatakel)
— to make someone a martyr
Chinese Mandarin:
使殉难
— to make someone a martyr
Chinese Mandarin:
处死
(chǔsǐ)
— to make someone a martyr
Finnish:
tehdä marttyyri (jostakin)
— to make someone a martyr
French:
martyriser
— to make someone a martyr
Hindi:
शहीद करना
(śahīd karnā)
— to make someone a martyr
Hindi:
क़ुरबान करना
(qurbān karnā)
— to make someone a martyr
Malayalam:
രക്തസാക്ഷിയാക്കുക
(raktasākṣiyākkuka)
— to make someone a martyr
Polish:
zadać męczeńską śmierć
— to make someone a martyr
