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

Yet, this idea of self-empowerment also explained why witches became classic villains in popular culture. —Time, 21 Nov. 2025

Meanwhile a girl from Kansas comes flying in via tornado and becomes part of the villains’ plans to ground the high-flying Elphaba. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025

The duality of heroes and villains is woven throughout every aspect of the ship, including staterooms inspired by the likes of Mulan and Big Hero 6. —Carly Caramanna, Parents, 20 Nov. 2025

Some of these people that he's killed will see him as a villain, not necessarily as a hero. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Nov. 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