vice

1 of 4

noun

ˈvīs 

plural vices

1

a

: moral depravity or corruption : wickedness

b

: a moral fault or failing

c

: a habitual and usually trivial defect or shortcoming : foible

suffered from the vice of curiosity

2

: blemish, defect

3

: a physical imperfection, deformity, or taint

4

a

often capitalized : a character representing one of the vices in an English morality play

b

: buffoon, jester

5

: an abnormal behavior pattern in a domestic animal detrimental to its health or usefulness

6

a

disapproving : uninhibited sexual behavior

b

: sex work

vice

2 of 4

chiefly British spelling of vise

vice

3 of 4

preposition

ˈvīs 

also

ˈvī-sē 

: in the place of

I will preside, vice the absent chairman

also : rather than

vice-

4 of 4

prefix

ˈvīs,

ˌvīs

: one that takes the place of

vice-chancellor

Synonyms

Noun

• corruption
• debauchery
• depravity
• immorality
• iniquitousness
• iniquity
• libertinage
• libertinism
• licentiousness
• profligacy
• sin

Choose the Right Synonym for vice

fault, failing, frailty, foible, vice mean an imperfection or weakness of character.

fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

a writer of many virtues and few faults

failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

being late is a failing of mine

frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

human frailties

foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

an eccentric's charming foibles

vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

compulsive gambling was his vice

offense, sin, vice, crime, scandal mean a transgression of law.

offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

Examples of vice in a Sentence

Noun

Such men are prone to vice.

He thought gambling was a vice.

Eating too much is my vice.

The city is a den of filth and vice.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin vitium fault, vice

Preposition

Latin, ablative of vicis change, alternation, stead — more at week

Prefix

Middle English vis-, vice-, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin vice-, from Latin vice, ablative of vicis

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

1770, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vice

• air vice-marshal
• vice admiral
• vice chancellor
• vice-consul
• vice presidency
• vice president
• vice-regent
• vice squad
• vice versa

Kids Definition

vice

1 of 2 noun

ˈvīs

1

a

: evil conduct or habits : wickedness

b

: a moral fault or weakness

dishonesty was his vice

2

: an unimportant fault

eating too much candy is my vice

3

: behavior that is unwanted in a domestic animal (as pulling out feathers by a bird)

vice-

2 of 2 prefix

(ˈ)vīs,

ˌvīs

: one that takes the place of

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin vice, a form of vicis "a change, another's place or role or job"

Medical Definition

vice

noun

ˈvīs 

: an abnormal behavior pattern in a domestic animal detrimental to its health or usefulness

Legal Definition

vice

1 of 3 noun

ˈvīs 

1

: a moral fault or failing

2

: defect

3

: immoral activity (as prostitution)

vice

2 of 3 preposition

ˈvīs, ˈvī-sē 

: in the place of

I will preside, vice the absent chairman

also : rather than

vice-

3 of 3 prefix

: one that takes the place of

vice-chancellor

Etymology

Preposition

Latin, ablative of vic- place, turn