Phrase guide

evil twin

noun · 2 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈiːvɪl twɪn/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈiːvl̩ twɪn/
  • General-American: /ˈivl̩ twɪn/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A duplicate or counterpart that acts in a contrary, nefarious, or insidious manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • As a ploy to discredit the reformist politician, the opposing party had hired a lookalike to act as his evil twin and be seen in a variety of compromising situations.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A rogue wireless access point installed near a legitimate one for purposes of eavesdropping or phishing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, networking, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From evil and twin.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 邪恶分身 (xié'è fēnshēn) — duplicate or counterpart
  • French: double maléfique — duplicate or counterpart
  • Hungarian: gonosz ikertestvér — duplicate or counterpart
  • Spanish: gemelo malvado — duplicate or counterpart