martyrdom

/ˈmɑrdərdəm/

/ˈmɑtədəm/

Other forms: martyrdoms

Suffering or dying for your beliefs, that’s martyrdom, and while it doesn’t sound pleasant, some people feel it’s a great honor.

The root of martyrdom is the Greek word martur, which means “witness"; the suffix -dom means “state or condition.” In a religious context, people who experience martyrdom bear witness for their faith and suffer or die because of their beliefs. Some people falsely claim martyrdom as a way to get attention, like your brother who whines about doing chores because his pinkie hurts.

Definitions of martyrdom

1. noun

   death that is imposed because of the person's adherence of a religious faith or cause
   type of:

   death, decease, demise, expiry

   the event of dying or departure from life
2. noun

   any experience that causes intense suffering
   synonyms: calvary

   type of:

   affliction

   a cause of great suffering and distress