vampire

noun

vam·​pire ˈvam-ˌpī(-ə)r How to pronounce vampire (audio)
1
: the reanimated body of a dead person believed to come from the grave at night and suck the blood of persons asleep
2
a
: one who lives by preying on others
b
: a woman who exploits and ruins her lover
3
vampiric adjective
vampirish adjective

Examples of vampire in a Sentence

regarded debt collectors as vampires who made a living from the misery of others
Recent Examples on the Web Marvel has only officially announced Ali’s casting as the eponymous vampire slayer. Jaden Thompson, Variety, 17 Mar. 2024 Guillén plays Guillermo de la Cruz, a mild-mannered familiar to vampire Nandor the Relentless (real-life best friend Kayvan Novak) with a lifelong goal of becoming a vampire himself — only to find out that he is descended from famous vampire hunter Van Helsing. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 The book centered on an author who returns to his hometown only to discover townspeople are slowly being turned into vampires. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 Where to watch The Old Dark House: Tubi 12 of 30 Vampyr (1932) Another European vampire film from the first half-century of cinema, Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1932 fantasy-horror hybrid was a favorite of Alfred Hitchcock’s. Katie Rife, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2024 Among those competing for the prize were a Cat in the Hat, a pirate, a Taco Cat, a witch and a vampire. Nhat V. Meyer, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 Sidekick to: Buffy Summers The once-mousy No. 2 behind Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar)'s superhero, Willow (a nerd-cool pioneer) tempers the vampire slayer's quip-spouting, melodramatic ways with patience, reason, and a readiness to roam the nether regions of the demon world. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 Contrary to its fearsome name, the vampire squid passively feeds on marine snow – drifting organic particles – using two long, sticky filaments. Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Read Next Deep-sea vampire squid suffocated 183 million years ago while hunting. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vampire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, borrowed from German Vampir, borrowed from Serbian vampir

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vampire was in 1732

Dictionary Entries Near vampire

Cite this Entry

“Vampire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vampire. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vampire

noun
vam·​pire ˈvam-ˌpī(ə)r How to pronounce vampire (audio)
1
: the body of a dead person believed to come from the grave at night and suck the blood of sleeping persons
2

Medical Definition

vampire

noun
vam·​pire ˈvam-ˌpī(ə)r How to pronounce vampire (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on vampire

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