ˈvikt(ə)rē, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French victorie, from Latin victoria, from feminine of (assumed) Latin victorius victorious, from Latin victus (past participle of vincere to conquer) + -orius -ory — more at victor
1. : the overcoming of an enemy in battle or of an antagonist in a contest
won victory at last in a protracted war
scored a knockout victory
earned a significant political victory
— opposed to defeat
2.
a. : the gaining of superiority or success in any struggle or endeavor
his new model represented a victory of constructive imagination
b. : a moral or spiritual triumph of any kind
yet his mental victory over this cruel illness is complete as well as inspiring — Ellen Patterson
Synonyms:
conquest , triumph : although victory can be used to imply no more than the defeat of an opponent in a contest or struggle, in applying to certain kinds of struggle it often inevitably suggests a certain satisfaction or praise accruing to the victor
a new concept of victory in war — R.J.Bunche
victory without peace — Archibald MacLeish
the victory over Everest was a fit coronation present for the Queen — W.O.Douglas
conquest implies a mastery over or subjugation of the opponent, whether a group of human beings or a difficult undertaking
the Roman conquest of the Greeks
the conquest of the Atlantic by air — Irish Digest
the education of women was in large part a feminine conquest — H.M.Parshley
triumph suggests great acclaim or personal satisfaction accruing to the victor as from a brilliant or decisive victory or an overwhelming conquest
it is surely questionable whether we as noncombatant individuals should desire their triumph, a degree of success that clearly implies the full accomplishment of all their ends, good and bad — Commonweal
the battle … marked the beginning of final Union triumph in the Chattanooga campaign — A.P.James
achieved a diplomatic triumph in bringing about the adoption of treaties — G.E.Rines
that she did as well as she did was a triumph of experience over inadequate means — Irving Kolodin