noun
martyrdom
MAH-tuh-duhm
noun
1
The suffering or death endured by a martyr because of their beliefs.
"His martyrdom turned him into a symbol for the movement."
"The church commemorates the martyrdom of its early saints every year."
2
Extreme, prolonged suffering of any kind, often exaggerated for effect.
"She described her commute as a daily martyrdom."
How to Use Martyrdom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe state or experience of being a martyr — actual suffering for a cause, or a joking exaggeration of it.
Word Forms
martyrdoms plural
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Etymology
From Old English martyrdom, built from "martyr" plus the suffix "-dom," which denotes a state or condition.