villain
/ˈvɪl.ən/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: villains
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A vile, wicked person.
Noun
Examples
Oh moſt pernicious woman! / Oh Villaine, Villaine, ſmiling damned Villaine!
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A vile, wicked person. — An extremely depraved person, or one capable or guilty of great crimes.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “villain” mean?
A vile, wicked person.
Is “villain” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.