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

The moment causes Byron, a selfish and braggadocious villain, to have a change of heart, stopping shipments of The Beauty and paying off the families ravaged by its gruesome side effects, like Bella’s. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026

Currently, Six Flags parks also have a deal to brand attractions with characters from the DC Universe, with multiple roller coasters and other rides themed to characters like Batman, Superman, Catwoman, Wonder Woman, the Joker, and more heroes and villains from the comics space. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026

Additionally, Caster stars as the villain in the thriller Do Not Enter. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026

The greatest screen villain of this century, period, cut the blockbuster check. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 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
• 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