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

… witness the wolf, at once ecological hero and agricultural villain.

—Ben Goldfarb

4

: villein

5

: an uncouth person : boor

Synonyms of villain

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

Sean has already made the DCU jump, appearing as villain Maxwell Lord in Superman (2025) and the Season 2 premiere episode of Peacemaker. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

The seemingly sweet and innocent woman from season one has become a brutally violent villain out for revenge. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Others insulted them, settling into the familiar wrestling roles of heroes and villains before ever stepping between the ropes. — Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

And in order to get himself on the right footing again with his populist base, his populist anger, he's got to find a villain. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

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
• 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