Martyrs meaning : One who willingly accepts being put to death for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after martyrdom. (by extension) One who sacrifices his or her life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause. (with a prepositional phrase of cause) One who suffers greatly and/or constantly, even involuntarily. To make someone into a martyr by putting him or her to death for adhering to, or acting in accordance with, some belief, especially religious; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession. To persecute. To torment; to torture.