vampire

vampire — noun

IPA/ˈvæmpaɪə(r)/
KK[vˈæmpaɪr]IPA/ˈvæmpaɪər/
  • vampiresingular
  • vampiresplural

1. A mythical undead creature from folklore that rises from its burial place after

1.nounA2
Definition

A mythical undead creature from folklore that rises from its burial place after dark and survives by biting people and drinking their blood.

Example

According to local legend, a vampire haunts the old cemetery on the hill.

countable noun with indefinite article

In many old tales, villagers drove wooden stakes through vampires' hearts to stop them.

vampires (plural) + possessive form

Common collocations
  • wooden stake
  • garlic
  • coffin
  • vampire bite
  • drink blood
  • rise from the grave
  • undead
Synonyms
  • undead

    broader category; refers to any reanimated corpse, not just blood-drinkers

  • bloodsucker

    informal or literary term that emphasises the feeding habit

Antonyms
  • human

    a living person as opposed to an undead creature

  • mortal

    a being subject to natural death, unlike a vampire

Grammar Patterns

a + vampire

the + vampire

vampires (plural)

Usage Note

Countable noun. Usually takes the indefinite article or plural form. Frequently appears in possessive constructions (vampire's, vampires').

Common Mistakes

The vampire bit the man and then he died.
The vampire bit the man, and the man later became a vampire himself.
In most folklore traditions, a vampire's bite does not immediately kill; it turns the victim into another vampire.

2. A person, business, or institution that takes advantage of others by extracting

2.nounB2
Definition

A person, business, or institution that takes advantage of others by extracting their money, time, or emotional energy for selfish gain.

Example

The landlord was a real vampire, collecting rent but never fixing the broken pipes.

metaphorical use with 'real' emphasiser

Critics called the payday loan company a vampire that fed on struggling families.

Common collocations
  • emotional vampire
  • corporate vampire
  • financial vampire
  • drain energy
  • prey on the vulnerable
Synonyms
  • predator

    less figurative than 'vampire'; can describe both literal and figurative exploitation

  • parasite

    stronger negative connotation; implies the exploiter contributes nothing in return

  • bloodsucker

    informal, synonymous with the figurative use of 'vampire'

Antonyms
  • benefactor

    a person or organisation that gives rather than takes

  • philanthropist

    someone who actively helps others, especially financially

Grammar Patterns

a + vampire

vampire + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Metaphorical, informal, and often hyperbolic. Commonly paired with modifiers like 'corporate', 'financial', or 'emotional' to specify the type of exploitation. Frequently pejorative.

Common Mistakes

That company is a vampire for using old equipment.
That company is a vampire because it steals ideas from smaller competitors.
'Vampire' implies active predation, not just poor management or frugality.

vampire — adjective

IPA/ˈvæm.paɪər/
KK[vˈæmpaɪr]IPA/ˈvæm.paɪr/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Vampire refers specifically to a reanimated corpse that drinks blood, typically at night, and is often portrayed as intelligent and seductive in modern fiction. Undead is a broader category covering any being that is dead yet still moving and functioning — including vampires, zombies, ghosts, and skeletons. Bloodsucker is an informal synonym for vampire that foregrounds the feeding habit; it can also be used metaphorically for a person who exploits others. Zombie, by contrast, is a mindless, reanimated corpse driven by hunger for human flesh, not blood, and lacks the personality, cunning, and social integration typical of vampire characters. In conversation: 'Dracula is a vampire who can hold intelligent conversations and charm his victims. A zombie, on the other hand, can only grunt and stumble forward.'

vampire ↗undead ↗bloodsucker ↗zombie ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • vampire-like
  • vampire-themed

Etymology

SlavicHungarianGermanFrenchEnglish

Vampire entered English in the early 1700s from French 'vampire', which came from German 'Vampir', borrowed from Hungarian 'vámpír'. The Hungarian term likely has Slavic origins — related to Old Russian 'upyr'' and Serbian 'vampir'. Stories of blood-drinking undead have existed across many cultures for centuries, but the English word became widely known after European travellers brought back tales from the Balkans in the 18th century.