victimize

/ˈvɪktɪmaɪz/

//ˈvɪktɪmaɪz// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"victimize" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“victimize” is uncommon English (frequency #72,018 among 7,391 “V” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#72,018
frequency rank, English
7,391
“V” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To make (someone) a victim or sacrifice.

Key facts for victimize
PropertyValue
Headwordvictimize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈvɪktɪmaɪz/
Letters9
Frequency rank#72,018
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “victimize” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). victimize lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

victimize is uncommon English at frequency #72,018 among 7,391 “V” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈvɪktɪmaɪz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

victimize has no tracked misspelling variants, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From victim + -ize. The correct English form is victimize, spelled V-I-C-T-I-M-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make (someone) a victim or sacrifice.
  2. 2
    To punish unjustly.
  3. 3
    To swindle or defraud.

Etymology

From victim + -ize.

This word in other languages

victimizar(Español)victimiser(Français)opfern(Deutsch)vitimar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "victimize"?
"victimize" is spelled V-I-C-T-I-M-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈvɪktɪmaɪz/.
What does "victimize" mean?
As a verb, "victimize" means: To make (someone) a victim or sacrifice.
How do you pronounce "victimize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "victimize" is /ˈvɪktɪmaɪz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "victimize"?
From victim + -ize. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “victimize”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is V-I-C-T-I-M-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈvɪktɪmaɪz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list