villain
Villain (noun) means a wicked or evil character, especially the main antagonist in a story, film, or drama. Example: “The villain in the film was a corrupt businessman plotting to flood the valley.”
How to use villain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe bad guy — a character or person who does wrong or causes harm.
Historically a villain just meant a peasant or farm labourer; the "evil person" sense only developed later. In modern English, always use it for the bad-guy sense.
Word forms
villained past tense, villains singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ in the film was a corrupt businessman plotting to flood the valley.
Etymology
From Old French vilein ("peasant, farmhand"), from Late Latin vīllānus, someone tied to working a country estate (villa). Its meaning shifted over centuries from simply "peasant" to "wicked person," as the upper classes came to see country folk as coarse or untrustworthy.
Related words
Rhymes for villain
See all rhymes for villain →Frequently asked questions
What does “villain” mean?
The word “villain” means a wicked or evil character, especially the main antagonist in a story, film, or drama. In plain terms, the bad guy — a character or person who does wrong or causes harm.
How do you pronounce “villain”?
“Villain” is pronounced VIHL-uhn (/ˈvɪl.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “villain” in a sentence?
Here is “villain” used in a sentence: “The villain in the film was a corrupt businessman plotting to flood the valley.”
What part of speech is “villain”?
“Villain” is a noun.
Where does the word “villain” come from?
The word “villain” comes from Late Latin.
Is “villain” a common word?
“Villain” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a villain and an antagonist?
A villain is a character who is wicked or evil, while an antagonist is simply the character who opposes the protagonist. A villain is usually an antagonist, but an antagonist need not be evil, since they may only have conflicting goals.
What is the difference between "villain" and "villein"?
"Villain" means a wicked character or wrongdoer, while "villein" is a historical term for a feudal peasant bound to a lord's land. The two words share an origin but now mean entirely different things, so they should not be confused in writing.
What is the difference between a villain and a hero?
A villain is the wicked character who works against the story's aims, while a hero is the admirable central figure the audience roots for. The two are usually set in opposition to drive a story's conflict.
What is the plural of "villain"?
The plural is "villains," formed by adding -s. For example, "the film features several memorable villains."
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