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

• baddie
• baddy
• beast
• brute
• caitiff
• devil
• evildoer
• fiend
• heavy
• hound
• knave
• meanie
• meany
• miscreant
• monster
• nazi
• no-good
• rapscallion
• rascal
• reprobate
• rogue
• savage
• scalawag
• scallywag
• scamp
• scapegrace
• scoundrel
• varlet
• wretch

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

She was named after the famed Batman character As a huge comic book fan, Kevin named his only child after the iconic Batman villain. —Jacklyn Krol, Peoplemag, 18 Aug. 2024

After the Joker unleashes the most dangerous villains from the Phantom Zone, Batman must learn to work with others to save his city. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024

However, superheroes — and villains — won't be the only ones in the mix. —Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2024

Hunter portrays the captain and chancellor of Starfleet Academy, and Giamatti is the season’s villain. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2024

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

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