vice

The word “vice” means an immoral or bad habit; a minor personal failing or indulgence. In plain terms, a bad habit or moral failing, or (in formal usage) a preposition meaning "instead of.".

“Vice” is pronounced vys (/vaɪs/ in IPA).

Here is “vice” used in a sentence: “Chocolate is her one guilty vice.”

Depending on how it is used, “vice” can be a noun and a preposition.

The word “vice” comes from Latin. The "bad habit" sense comes from Latin vitium, "fault," while the "instead of" sense comes from Latin vice, the ablative form of vicis, "turn, change.".

“Vice” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Vice” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an immoral or bad habit; a minor personal failing or indulgence.

Vice and virtue are direct opposites. A virtue is a good moral quality or admirable habit, such as honesty or patience. A vice is the reverse, an immoral habit or personal weakness, such as greed or laziness. Traditionally, character is described as a balance between one's virtues and one's vices.

Vices range from serious moral failings to small indulgences. Classic examples include greed, envy, and dishonesty, while lighter ones include gambling, overeating, or a fondness for gossip. People often call a harmless treat their "guilty little vice," using the word playfully for a minor weakness rather than a genuine moral fault.

A sin is a single wrongful act, especially one that breaks a religious or moral law. A vice is the ingrained habit or character flaw behind such acts, a settled tendency rather than one deed. Repeated sins can harden into a vice, but a vice describes the pattern, not the individual action.

Not always. At its strongest, a vice is a genuine moral failing like cruelty or greed. But the word is often used lightly for a minor indulgence or bad habit, such as a sweet tooth or too much coffee. Tone and context decide whether a vice is condemned or simply confessed with a smile.