martyr UK /ˈmɑːtə(ɹ)/US /ˈmɑɹ.tɚ/noun 4verb 3forms 4 noun4 •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.The apostle Stephen was the first Christian martyr. •One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause. •Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.You have a great life! Stop trying to play the martyr! •One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris is a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it. verb3 •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.Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction. •To torment; to torture.Hark, wretches, how I mean to martyr you. This one hand yet is left to cut your throats, Whiles that Lavinia ’tween her stumps doth hold The basin that receives your guilty blood. — 1588 formsmartyred · martyring · martyreth · martyrs