noun
martyr; victim of persecution
Refers to someone who suffers or dies for a cause, especially religious or political. More specific than a general victim; implies sacrifice for beliefs.
彼は信仰のために殉難者となった。
He became a martyr for his faith.
その事件で多くの殉難者が出た。
Many victims of persecution resulted from that incident.
Compound of 殉難 (martyrdom, dying for a cause) and 者 (person). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji 殉 means 'martyrdom' or 'follow to the grave', and 難 means 'hardship' or 'difficulty'.