noun Common

villain

VIHL-uhn

Quiz me More like this

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.”

noun

A wicked or evil character, especially the main antagonist in a story, film, or drama.

"In some ways, it’s a relief to see tech bros, especially AI entrepreneurs, reach full, unambiguous movie-villain status." — Adrian Horton, Tech-bro satire Mountainhead is an insufferable disappointment (2025)

"The villain in the film was a corrupt businessman plotting to flood the valley."

"Everyone in the office started calling him the office villain after the scandal broke."

"The audience booed the villain as soon as he appeared on stage."

How to use villain

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe bad guy — a character or person who does wrong or causes harm.

Common mistake

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.

Common pairings

play the villain the villain of the piece a cartoon villain

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like villain.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Third person singular: villains
Past tense: villained

Test yourself on “villain” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

Origin: Late Latin

Synonyms

View more →

antagonist scoundrel rogue evildoer wrongdoer miscreant baddie

Antonyms

hero

Related words

fellow enemy hero sub assistant champion devil fighter

Rhymes for villain

ain rain pain lain gain main vain fain bain Iain Jain Cain

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."

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include villain:

Words that start with V

People also searched

fellow enemy hero sub assistant champion devil fighter