What is martyrdom?

Martyrdom, in its traditional sense, refers to the death of someone because of his or her religious beliefs. The term is most commonly used for the early Christians, but also applies to the pagans who were killed when Christianity became dominant. Muslims sometimes refer to a Muslim who dies in the defence of Islam as a martyr.

----------

The Word "martyr" is also used metaphorically to refer to someone who seems determined not to change even when it leads to an unfortunate loss or failure. (There is a psychological syndrome known as a "martyr complex", for those determined to sacrifice themselves, although usually not literally.)

Example : "Refusing to wear his tie, Smith became a martyr to the dress code when he was fired by the board."

------------

One use in common culture is as a status (perk) in the video game Call of Duty.