Definition

A woman who does bad things or is evil in stories, movies, or plays.

Example

In the movie, the villainess plotted to take over the kingdom.

Conversation

Have you seen the latest episode of that show?

Yes! The new character is such a classic villainess.

I know, right? She's definitely my favorite part now.

Same here! I love how they portray her backstory.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Villainess → It is formed from "villain" (from Old French *vilain*, meaning a peasant or farm worker, later evolving to mean a wicked person) and "-ess" (a suffix used to denote female gender). The word "villainess" refers to a female character who embodies villainous traits or actions.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'villain' as someone who is wicked or evil, and the '-ess' indicates that this is a female character. This helps you remember that a 'villainess' is a female who plays the role of a villain.

Visually Confused Words