vice
1[ vahys ]
/ vaɪs /
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noun
adjective
of or relating to the vice squad, or to the threats to public order it is tasked to police, such as gambling, pornography, prostitution, and narcotics: a vice cop;the vice division of the police department.
OTHER WORDS FOR vice
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Origin of vice
1First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin vitium “a fault, defect, vice”
synonym study for vice
See fault.
Other definitions for vice (2 of 4)
Other definitions for vice (3 of 4)
vice3
[ vahy-see, -suh, vahys ]
/ ˈvaɪ si, -sə, vaɪs /
preposition
instead of; in the place of: The committee was reorganized, with Mr. Silver, vice Mr. Cooper, as the head.
Origin of vice
3First recorded in 1760–70; from Latin: literally, “instead of,” ablative of vicis (genitive; not attested in nominative) “recurring action, turn, interchange, alternation”
Other definitions for vice (4 of 4)
vice-
a combining form meaning “deputy,” used in the formation of compound words, usually titles of officials who serve in the absence of the official denoted by the base word: viceroy; vice-chancellor.
Origin of vice-
Middle English ≪ Latin vicevice3
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use vice in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for vice (1 of 5)
vice1
/ (vaɪs) /
noun
an immoral, wicked, or evil habit, action, or trait
habitual or frequent indulgence in pernicious, immoral, or degrading practices
a specific form of pernicious conduct, esp prostitution or sexual perversion
a failing or imperfection in character, conduct, etcsmoking is his only vice
pathol obsolete any physical defect or imperfection
a bad trick or disposition, as of horses, dogs, etc
Derived forms of vice
viceless, adjectiveWord Origin for vice
C13: via Old French from Latin vitium a defect
British Dictionary definitions for vice (2 of 5)
vice2
often US vise
/ (vaɪs) /
noun
an appliance for holding an object while work is done upon it, usually having a pair of jaws
verb
(tr) to grip (something) with or as if with a vice
Derived forms of vice
vicelike or US viselike, adjectiveWord Origin for vice
C15: from Old French vis a screw, from Latin vītis vine, plant with spiralling tendrils (hence the later meaning)
British Dictionary definitions for vice (3 of 5)
vice3
/ (vaɪs) /
adjective
- (prenominal) serving in the place of or as a deputy for
- (in combination)viceroy
noun
informal a person who serves as a deputy to another
Word Origin for vice
C18: from Latin vice, from vicis interchange
British Dictionary definitions for vice (4 of 5)
vice4
/ (ˈvaɪsɪ) /
preposition
instead of; as a substitute for
Word Origin for vice
C16: from Latin, ablative of vicis change
British Dictionary definitions for vice (5 of 5)
Vice
/ (vaɪs) /
noun
(in English morality plays) a character personifying a particular vice or vice in general
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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