Victory
/ˈvɪk.tər.i/noun
The act of defeating an opponent or winning a contest.
Did you know?Victory descends from Latin *victoria*, built on *vincere* meaning “to conquer,” the same root behind words like *convict* and *invincible*.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weik-
“to fight, conquer, or overcome”
Latin
Latin
vincere
“to conquer, overcome”
Latin
Latin
victoria
“a victory; conquest”
Old French
Old French
victorie
“victory; triumph”
Middle English
English
victorie
“victory; success in battle”
Modern English
English
victory
“the defeat of an opponent or success in a contest”
Explore more surprising origins