villain

noun

vil·​lain ˈvi-lən 

1

: a character in a story or play who opposes the hero

2

: a deliberate scoundrel or criminal

3

: one blamed for a particular evil or difficulty

automation as the villain in job … displacement

—M. H. Goldberg

4

: villein

5

: an uncouth person : boor

Synonyms

• baddie
• baddy
• beast
• brute
• caitiff
• devil
• evildoer
• fiend
• heavy
• hound
• knave
• meanie
• meany
• miscreant
• monster
• nazi
• no-good
• rapscallion
• rascal
• reprobate
• rogue
• savage
• scalawag
• scallywag
• scamp
• scapegrace
• scoundrel
• varlet
• wretch

Examples of villain in a Sentence

He plays the villain in most of his movies.

She describes her first husband as a villain who treated her terribly.

Don't try to make me the villain. It's your own fault that you're having these problems.

Recent Examples on the Web

Marlena’s John is an iconic hero, and unfailingly rescuing her from all matter of villains. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024

The film stars, of all people, Hugh Grant, who is said to have an amazing turn as a villain in the film. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Meanwhile, newly engaged Nina Dobrev and Shaun White coupled up as Batman villains in Los Angeles, and Nelly and Ashanti became cowboys in Atlanta. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024

No Way Home utilizes several of the wider series' most iconic villains, including Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock, Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin, and Jamie Foxx’s Electro. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vilain, vilein, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin villanus, from Latin villa

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Kids Definition

villain

noun

vil·​lain ˈvil-ən 

1

: villein

2

: an evil person : scoundrel

3

: a character in a story or play who opposes the hero