Vampyre

The Vampyre is a variant spelling of vampire, used in English-language fiction and popular culture to evoke antique or gothic connotations. The form appears in the title of John Polidori's 1819 tale The Vampyre: A Tale, often cited as one of the earliest modern vampire works. Beyond that, "Vampyre" is used today mainly for stylistic effect in books, films, games, and branding.

In folklore, a vampire (vampyre) is typically an undead being who subsists by feeding on the life force, especially blood. Traits vary by culture and work: immortality, enhanced strength, seduction, and different vulnerabilities such as sunlight, holy symbols, or garlic; some traditions depict vampires as revenants returning from death to feed; creation by bite, curse, or magical process.

In fiction, the vampire/vampyre has been used as a platform for exploring themes of immortality, sexuality, and fear of the other. The archaic spelling often marks a connection to older myths or to the early English vampire literature.

In contemporary media, vampyres appear in novels, films, games, and role-playing games; they are commonly portrayed as aristocratic or seductive, though depictions range from monstrous to sympathetic. The term remains primarily a stylistic variant rather than a distinct biological category.