victim

Universal Words noun 1 a person who has been attacked, injured or killed as the result of a crime, a disease, an accident, etc: murder / rape victims * accident / earthquake / famine victims * Aids / cancer / stroke victims * victims of crime * She was the innocent victim of an arson attack. * Schools are the latest victims of cuts in public spending. 2 a person who has been tricked: They were the victims of a cruel hoax. * She's a fashion victim (= wears the newest fashions even if they do not suit her). 3 an animal or a person that is killed and offered as a SACRIFICE: a sacrificial victim IDIOMS fall victim (to sth) (written) to be injured, damaged or killed by sth: Many plants have fallen victim to the sudden frost.