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

• brute
• monster
• devil
• criminal
• savage
• offender
• beast
• scoundrel
• bandit
• assassin

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

Because the traits that make someone a hero in a story can easily lend themselves to being painted as a villain, too. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin play estranged old friends who reconnect at the funeral of a mutual friend, only to realize that their friend's dead husband was really the villain in all their lives. —PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025

That name should also be familiar to Tron enthusiasts; it was founded by Ed Dillinger (David Warner), the villain of the original movie. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025

During a recent appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor denied that rumors of him taking the role of the villain have any credibility. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for villain

• millon
• amoxicillin
• carbenicillin
• haematoxylin
• ampicillin
• methicillin
• penicillin
• pyroxylin
• vanillin

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