1.
victim; casualty
A person who suffers harm, injury, or death as a result of a disaster, accident, crime, or war. Emphasizes the person as someone who was sacrificed or harmed by circumstances beyond their control.
犠牲者の数が増えている。
The number of victims is rising.
地震による犠牲者は百人を超えた。
The death toll from the earthquake exceeded one hundred.
戦争の犠牲者に黙祷を捧げた。
We observed a moment of silence for the victims of war.
Common collocations: 犠牲者が出る (casualties occur), 犠牲者を出す (to produce casualties), 犠牲者の冥福を祈る (to pray for the repose of the victims). The base word 犠牲 means "sacrifice" and can be used without ～者: 犠牲になる (to fall victim, to be sacrificed). Related: 被害者 (victim — legal term, emphasizes having suffered damage), 被災者 (disaster victim — specifically those affected by a natural disaster).