# vice

> English word · Noun · IPA /vaɪs/ · frequency rank #2,024

## Definitions
1. Bad or immoral behaviour.
2. Any of various crimes related (depending on jurisdiction) to weapons, prostitution, pornography, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
3. Clipping of vice squad.
4. A defect in the temper or behaviour of a horse, such as to make the animal dangerous, to injure its health, or to diminish its usefulness.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *dwóh₁
From Middle English vice, from Old French vice, from Latin vitium (“fault or blemish”). Displaced native Old English unþēaw.

## Easily confused with
- **VIP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vip)
- **vis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vis)
- **vid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vid)
- **vie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vie)
- **Viv** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-viv)
- **VOC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-voc)
- **vim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vim)
- **Vit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vit)
- **VIX** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vix)
- **view** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-view)
- **vote** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vote)
- **visa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-visa)
- **vine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vine)
- **vile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vile)
- **vita** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vita)
- **viva** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-viva)
- **Viet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-viet)
- **Vick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vick)
- **vide** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vide)
- **vive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vice-vs-vive)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ivce`, `vcie`, `vicce`, `viec`, `vvice`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/vice