Villain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT villain /ˈvɪlən/ /ˈvɪlən/ IPA guide

Other forms: villains

A villain is a bad person — real or made up. In books, movies, current events, or history, the villain is the character who does mean, evil things on purpose.

Today a villain is a wicked person, whether in fact or fiction. In the 1300s, villain described a low-born rustic. It came from the Medieval Latin word villanus, or farmhand. Just why a word would evolve from meaning farmer into evildoer is a little mysterious, although it probably has to do with farmers not being chivalrous, like the knights who were so admired in those days.

Definitions of villain

noun a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately synonyms: scoundrel see moresee less types: show 5 types... hide 5 types... blackguard, bounder, cad, dog, heel, hound someone who is morally reprehensible gallows bird a person who deserves to be hanged knave, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, scalawag, scallywag, varlet a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel villainess a woman villain perisher bounder type of: persona non grata, unwelcome person a person who for some reason is not wanted or welcome
noun the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction synonyms: baddie see moresee less type of: character, part, persona, role, theatrical role an actor's portrayal of someone in a play, film, etc...

Pronunciation US /ˈvɪlən/ UK /ˈvɪlən/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘villain'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

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