Villian vs. Villain — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 21, 2024
"Villian" is the incorrect spelling, while "Villain" is the correct one. A villain is typically an evil character in a story or real life.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Villian or Villain
How to spell Villain?
Villian
Incorrect Spelling
Villain
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
The correct spelling "Villain" has only one "i," unlike "Villian."
Think of "villAin" with an "A" as in "Antagonist," which is a synonym.
Remember the word "evil" in "Villain," without the extra "i."
In cinema, the villain is often central, just like the central "a" in "Villain."
Just as there's only one main villain, there's only one "i" before the "a."
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How Do You Spell Villain Correctly?
Incorrect: He played the role of the villian in the movie.
Correct: He played the role of the villain in the movie.
Incorrect: The story's villian was defeated in the end.
Correct: The story's villain was defeated in the end.
Incorrect: Every fairy tale needs a good villian.
Correct: Every fairy tale needs a good villain.
Incorrect: The book's villian had a very complex personality.
Correct: The book's villain had a very complex personality.
Villain Definitions
A villain is an evil character in a story or film.
The Joker is a famous villain in Batman comics.
A person guilty of or likely to commit great crimes.
The villain was apprehended by the police.
An individual who causes harm or destruction.
Pollution is often the unseen villain harming our environment.
A deliberate scoundrel or criminal.
The town's villain was finally caught after years of thievery.
A character in a story or play who opposes the hero.
Every superhero story typically has a corresponding villain.
A villain (also known as a "black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines such a character as "a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel; or a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot".
(in a film, novel, or play) a character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot
A pantomime villain
I have played more good guys than villains
Variant spelling of villein
A wicked or evil person; a scoundrel.
A dramatic or fictional character who is typically at odds with the hero.
(also vĭlān′, vĭ-lān) Variant of villein.
Something said to be the cause of particular trouble or an evil
Poverty, the villain in the increase of crime.
(Obsolete) A peasant regarded as vile and brutish.
A vile, wicked person.
An extremely depraved person, or one capable or guilty of great crimes.
A deliberate scoundrel.
A low-born, abject person.
In fiction, a character who has the role of being bad, especially antagonizing the hero.
(poker) Any opponent player, especially a hypothetical player for example and didactic purposes. Compare: the current player.
Let's discuss how to play if you are the chip leader (that is, if you have more chips than all the villains).
Archaic form of villein
To debase; to degrade.
One who holds lands by a base, or servile, tenure, or in villenage; a feudal tenant of the lowest class, a bondman or servant.
If any of my ansectors was a tenant, and a servant, and held his lands as a villain to his lord, his posterity also must do so, though accidentally they become noble.
A baseborn or clownish person; a boor.
Pour the blood of the villain in one basin, and the blood of the gentleman in another, what difference shall there be proved?
A vile, wicked person; a man extremely depraved, and capable or guilty of great crimes; a deliberate scoundrel; a knave; a rascal; a scamp.
Like a villain with a smiling cheek.
Calm, thinking villains, whom no faith could fix.
Villainous.
A wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
The principle bad character in a film or work of fiction
Villain Meaning in a Sentence
Every superhero story has a villain to defeat.
The villain in the story had a plan to take over the world.
In the end, the villain realized the error of his ways.
The villain laughed menacingly as the hero approached.
She dressed up as her favorite movie villain for Halloween.
The children booed the villain in the school play.
The book's villain was actually the hero's best friend.
The villain managed to escape in a dramatic chase scene.
Despite being the villain, he was a very popular character.
The villain in the video game was very difficult to beat.
The hero vowed to stop the villain no matter what.
The villain had a pet cat that was as sinister as he was.
In the story, the villain had control over the elements.
Villain Idioms & Phrases
The villain of the piece
The main source of trouble or the antagonist in a situation.
In the dispute, it was clear who was the villain of the piece.
Behind every villain lies a tragic backstory
Suggests that negative behaviors or evil actions often stem from past traumas or experiences.
Even the villain in the novel had reasons for his actions, illustrating that behind every villain lies a tragic backstory.
Common Curiosities
What is the verb form of Villain?
There isn't a direct verb form of "villain."
Why is it called Villain?
It's called "villain" from Old French "vilain" which referred to a peasant, implying someone of low birth or morals.
What is the root word of Villain?
The root word is the Old French "vilain."
Which vowel is used before Villain?
No specific vowel is typically used before "villain."
What is the plural form of Villain?
The plural form is "villains."
Which conjunction is used with Villain?
Conjunctions aren't specifically tied to nouns, so any could be used depending on the sentence.
What is the pronunciation of Villain?
"Villain" is pronounced as /ˈvɪlən/.
Is Villain an adverb?
No, "villain" is not an adverb.
What is the singular form of Villain?
The singular form is "villain."
Is Villain an abstract noun?
No, it's a concrete noun when referring to an actual person, but can be abstract when referring to a concept of evil.
Is the Villain term a metaphor?
It can be used metaphorically, e.g., "Time is the real villain here."
Which article is used with Villain?
Both "a" and "the" can be used, e.g., "a villain" or "the villain."
Which preposition is used with Villain?
"Of" as in "villain of the story," though the preposition can vary based on context.
Is Villain a noun or adjective?
"Villain" is primarily a noun.
Is Villain a countable noun?
Yes, you can have one villain or multiple villains.
How many syllables are in Villain?
There are two syllables.
What is the first form of Villain?
"Villain" itself is the base form.
Is Villain a vowel or consonant?
"Villain" is a word, not a letter, but it starts with the consonant "V."
How do we divide Villain into syllables?
It's divided as vil-lain.
What is another term for Villain?
Another term is "antagonist."
What is the third form of Villain?
Again, nouns don't have verb-like forms, so there's no third form.
Is Villain a negative or positive word?
It's a negative word.
Is Villain a collective noun?
No, it's not a collective noun.
Is the word Villain is imperative?
No, it's not imperative.
What is a stressed syllable in Villain?
The first syllable "vil" is stressed.
What part of speech is Villain?
"Villain" is a noun.
What is the opposite of Villain?
The opposite is "hero."
Which determiner is used with Villain?
Any determiner can be used based on the context, such as "the," "a," "this," or "my."
Is the word Villain is Gerund?
No, it's not a gerund.
Is the word “Villain” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be either depending on its use in a sentence.
What is the second form of Villain?
Nouns don't have verb-like forms, so there's no second form.
How is Villain used in a sentence?
"In the movie, the villain plotted to take over the city."
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
