Victim

How it is used

Used by police, courts, charities and the media: 'the victim of an attack', 'fraud victims', 'victim support'. Many systems give victims rights to information, to protection and to be heard. In some courts 'complainant' is used before the verdict, because the crime has not yet been proved.

Example sentences

1. The victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

2. Many fraud victims are too embarrassed to report what happened.

3. The court must consider the effect of the crime on the victim.

Common collocations

• victim of crime
• fall victim to
• victim support
• fraud victim
• victims' rights

Related terms

• complainantThe person who reports a crime and says they were harmed by it, especially in court before it has been decided whether the crime took place.
• compensationMoney paid to a victim for injury, loss or suffering caused by a crime, either by the offender or through a state scheme.
• victim impact statementA written or spoken statement in which a victim explains how a crime has affected their life, which the court can consider before sentencing.
• restraining orderA court order that forbids a person from contacting or going near someone else, usually to protect a victim of violence, threats or harassment.
• press chargesTo make a formal complaint against someone so that they can be charged with a crime; used mainly about victims.

More terms: Victims' Rights

• restorative justice