# villain

/ˈvɪɫən/ (US) · /vˈɪlən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/villain
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. fictional character

noun · CEFR B1

the 'bad guy' in a book, film, or play who works against the hero.

For teachers: a character in a fictional narrative whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot.

- The villain in the movie was much more interesting than the hero.
- Modern screenwriters often attempt to humanise the villain by providing a complex backstory that explains their descent into criminality.

### 2. wicked person

noun · CEFR B2

a person who does very bad or cruel things in real life.

For teachers: a person who is guilty or capable of great wickedness or a crime.

- The newspapers described the thief as a heartless villain.
- History has often cast him as a villain, though recent biographies suggest his motives were more political than purely malicious.

### 3. feudal peasant

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a poor person who worked on a lord's land in the Middle Ages.

For teachers: a feudal tenant entirely subject to a lord or manor to whom they paid dues and services.

- The villain worked the fields from dawn until dusk for his master.
- The legal status of the medieval villain was complex, as they were technically free in relation to everyone except their own lord.

Usage: Often spelled 'villein' in modern historical texts to distinguish it from the sense of a wicked person who is evil.

## Examples

- The villain in the movie has a very scary laugh.
- While the hero receives all the praise, the story would be nothing without a complex villain to challenge them.
- History often casts the losing side as the villain, though modern biographers frequently attempt to provide a more nuanced perspective on their motivations and circumstances.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.