villain

noun

vil·​lain ˈvi-lən How to pronounce villain (audio)
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 … displacementM. H. Goldberg
4
5
: an uncouth person : boor

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
She's been gone for over 20 years, and so to win this for a soap opera, playing a villain, is really wonderful. Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025 Not to mention Elm Street introduced a villain for the ages in Freddy Krueger, an instant icon played by Robert Englund, whose charisma was strong enough to shine through even the thickest makeup. Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025 In the first movie, Thames’ Finney and his psychic sister survived their run-in with the kidnapping villain thanks in part to a supernatural phone that could communicate with the Grabber’s ghostly victims. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025 Every horror film needs a great villain, and this burgeoning franchise definitely has one with the Grabber. Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for villain

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of villain was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Villain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/villain. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

villain

noun
vil·​lain ˈvil-ən How to pronounce villain (audio)
1
2
: an evil person : scoundrel
3
: a character in a story or play who opposes the hero

More from Merriam-Webster on villain

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