To save this word, you'll need to log in.
arch·vil·lain | \ (ˌ)ärch-ˈvi-lən 
\
\ plural archvillains
Definition of archvillain
: a principal or extreme villain
Mr. Bernstein is very much in labor's corner as he recounts his story, and he portrays Mr. Lorenzo as an archvillain, heaping blame on him at every turn.— William Stockton, New York Times Book Review, 26 Aug. 1990 Literary archvillains include Sherlock Holmes' archfoe Professor James Moriarty and Captain Ahab's murderous Moby Dick.— Sol Steinmetz, Semantic Antics, 2008
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on archvillain
What made you want to look up archvillain? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz
- Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share archvillain
Time Traveler for archvillain
The first known use of archvillain was circa 1616
See more words from the same year