French word

martyr

Pronunciation

IPA/maʁtiʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmartyr

Example

Il est devenu un martyr pour sa foi.

He became a martyr for his faith.

Illustration for martyr (martyr)

More examples

La foule l'a pris pour un martyr après son arrestation.

The crowd took him for a martyr after his arrest.

Core concept

A person whose suffering or death becomes a public symbol of commitment to a cause.

Common phrases

  • être traité comme un martyr

    be treated like a martyr

  • un martyr pour sa foi

    a martyr for his faith

Similar words

victime: A person harmed by an accident, crime, or similar event.
héros: A brave person who risks their life to save others.
symbole: A person or thing that represents an idea or group.
persécuté: A person repeatedly targeted because of religious or political beliefs.

Definition in French

Personne reconnue pour avoir souffert ou été tuée à cause de ses croyances, de ses idées ou de son engagement.

Word origin

French martyr comes through Latin martyr from Greek mártys, 'witness', and its religious sense later broadened to include people who suffer or die for other causes.

Usage tips

  • Martyr is masculine in French, while the feminine form is une martyre, with a final e.

Opposites

  • persécuteurpersecutornoun

Related words

  • martyremartyrdomnoun

Word lists with this word