[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/villain/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [V](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/v/) / villain

# villain

noun (a villain, villains)

«villain» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A villain is a bad character in a story, play or film who does evil things and fights against the hero. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/#m1)
2. A person who does wrong or harmful things; a criminal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used in reading and writing lessons: story characters — hero and villain; describing a villain's appearance and actions. In everyday talk: "the villain of the piece" means the one to blame.

### Examples

- The villain wanted to steal the crown. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/#x1)
- Every good story needs a hero and a villain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/#x2)
- The villain laughed an evil laugh. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/#x3)
- Describe your villain using strong adjectives. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/#x4)
- The police caught the villain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/#x5)
- In the pantomime, everyone boos the villain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/#x6)
- "Villain!" shouted all the Pygmies at once. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/#x7)

### Note

Spelling trap: v-i-l-l-a-i-n (ai, not "-ian"). Pronounced "VIL-un". Adjective: villainous. Opposite: hero.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «villain» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/villain/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«villain» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/villain.html) on Mova free.