Standard Lemma guide

archvillain

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌɑːtʃˈvɪlən/
  • General-American: /ˌɑɹt͡ʃˈvɪlən/
  • rhymes with -ɪlən

1

noun

Meaning 1

A supreme villain; the most evil or powerful villain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, narratology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2er-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h2ergh-der.? Ancient Greek ἄρχω (árkhō) Ancient Greek ἀρχι- (arkhi-)der. Latin archi-bor. Old English arċe- Middle English arch- English arch- English villain English archvillain From arch- (“chief, most extreme”) + villain.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: arkkivihollinen — a supreme villain; the most evil or powerful villain
  • Finnish: arkkikonna — a supreme villain; the most evil or powerful villain
  • Polish: arcywróg — a supreme villain; the most evil or powerful villain
  • Portuguese: arquivilão — a supreme villain; the most evil or powerful villain