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villainess

American

[vil-uh-nis] / ˈvɪl ə nɪs /

noun

a villainous woman.

Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of villainess

First recorded in 1580–90; villain + -ess

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rapp played central villainess Regina George, reprising a role she originated on Broadway, and spent the press tour gleefully going off script.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2025

There were lines to meet the Emmy winner Bonnie Bartlett, 92, who played Barbara Thorndyke, a fan-favorite villainess in a single third-season episode.

From New York Times • May 4, 2022

But the infernal Agni knows, as does any reader familiar with “The Ramayana”: Kaikeyi is destined to play a villainess in the great game of gods and mortals.

From Washington Post • Apr. 26, 2022

Cruella This is the second trailer for the upcoming origin story of the villainess from 101 Dalmatians and it makes me think we’re supposed to be rooting for Cruella?

From The Verge • Apr. 11, 2021

There was a villainess, also in love with the handsome young minister, and out to get the heroine.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023