villain
villain Lexical Profile
villain Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A character in a novel, play, or film whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot and who typically opposes the hero.
"The actor is famous for portraying the charismatic villain in several classic spy movies."
A wicked, cruelly malicious, or criminal person who is guilty or capable of deliberate wrongdoing.
"Public opinion quickly turned the corrupt executive into the chief villain of the financial scandal."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with the historical homophone 'villein', which specifically denotes a feudal serf without the modern implication of moral wickedness.
• Rhymes for villain
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French 'vilain' (peasant, rustic, or lowborn person), from Late Latin 'villanus' (farmhand), derived from Latin 'villa' (country house or farm). The shift in meaning from a humble farm laborer to a wicked scoundrel reflects medieval aristocratic prejudice, which equated low social status with a lack of moral character.