villainy

[ vil-uh-nee ]

noun

, plural vil·lain·ies.

1. the actions or conduct of a villain; outrageous wickedness.
2. a villainous act or deed.
3. Obsolete. villeinage.

villainy

/ ˈvɪlənɪ /

noun

1. conduct befitting a villain; vicious behaviour or action
2. an evil, abhorrent, or criminal act or deed
3. the fact or condition of being villainous
4. English history a rare word for villeinage

Word History and Origins

Origin of villainy¹

1175–1225; Middle English vile ( i ) nie, vilainie < Old French. See villain, -y ³

Example Sentences

Huston’s ready-made villainy won’t suffer either, although I’m pretty sure a shot of him closing his eyes — ostensibly in monstrous reverie — is really just an attempt to remember better gigs.

From Los Angeles Times

The campaign calls on the film industry to stop using visible differences such as scars and burns as shorthand for villainy.

From BBC

Terry Gilliam’s original “Time Bandits” presents it as a kind of passive villainy, although if you were among the kids who saw it in 1981 you might not have recognized that.

From Salon

In this edited conversation, Manzoor talks about the show, the band’s struggle, catharsis and the power of positive villainy.

From Los Angeles Times

Gus speaks with a suave efficiency that lends an elegance to his villainy.

From Salon