death that is imposed because of the person's adherence of a religious faith or cause
disapproval If you describe someone's behaviour as martyrdom, you are critical of them because they are exaggerating their suffering in order to gain sympathy or praise. She sat picking at her small plate of rice salad with an air of martyrdom. death as a martyr
{i} torture and execution of a martyr; persecution of a person for their faith; torment, suffering
If someone suffers martyrdom, they are killed or made to suffer greatly because of their religious or political beliefs. the martyrdom of Bishop Feliciano He suffered martyrdom by stoning