# martyr

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #15,862

## Definitions
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.
2. One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.
3. One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.
4. Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.

## 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”).

## Easily confused with
- **Mary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martyr-vs-mary)
- **mater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martyr-vs-mater)
- **Matty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martyr-vs-matty)
- **Morty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martyr-vs-morty)
- **marys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martyr-vs-marys)
- **matter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martyr-vs-matter)
- **master** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martyr-vs-master)
- **mortar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martyr-vs-mortar)
- **Merthyr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martyr-vs-merthyr)
- **mart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mart-vs-martyr)
- **Marr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marr-vs-martyr)
- **marry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marry-vs-martyr)
- **Marty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marty-vs-martyr)
- **Marta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marta-vs-martyr)
- **Marcy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marcy-vs-martyr)
- **martin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martin-vs-martyr)
- **Martha** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martha-vs-martyr)
- **marker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marker-vs-martyr)
- **marten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marten-vs-martyr)
- **martel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/martel-vs-martyr)

## Common misspellings (10)
`amrtyr`, `marrtyr`, `martry`, `marttyr`, `martyrr`, `martyyr`, `marytr`, `matryr`, `mmartyr`, `mratyr`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/martyr