Vice Definition

vīs

noun

An evil or wicked action, habit, or characteristic.

Webster's New World

Evil or wicked conduct or behavior; depravity or corruption.

Webster's New World

Prostitution.

Webster's New World

Prostitution, the sale of illegal drugs, and certain other forms of usually nonviolent criminal behavior.

American Heritage

Any trivial fault or failing, act of self-indulgence, etc.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

preposition

In the place of; as the deputy or successor of.

Webster's New World

prefix

One who acts in the place of another; deputy.

Vice-chairman.

American Heritage

affix

One who acts in the place of; subordinate; deputy.

Vice-chairman, viceregal.

Webster's New World

verb

To hold or squeeze with a vice, or as if with a vice.

Wiktionary

adjective

In place of; subordinate to; designating a person below another in rank.

Vice president.

Vice admiral.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Vice

Singular:

vice

Plural:

vices

Middle English from Old French vis-, vice- from Late Latin vice- from Latin vice ablative of *vix change weik-² in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From French vis (“screw, winding stairs"), from Old French vis, viz, from Latin vitis (“vine"); akin to English withy.

From Wiktionary
From Anglo-Norman, from Old French, from Latin vitium (“fault or blemish").

From Wiktionary
From Latin vice (“in place of"), ablative form of vicis.

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old French from Latin vitium

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Latin ablative of vix change vice–

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition