vice
gb/vˈaɪs/ us/vˈaɪs/
B1
English
~ 2500
erkölcsi hiba, bűn, káros szenvedély, satu, helyettes, alelnök
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s vice
Gambling became his most destructive vice.
A szerencsejáték lett a legpusztítóbb káros szenvedélye.
She considered lying to be a serious vice.
A hazudozást súlyos erkölcsi hibának tartotta.
The novel explores the vices of greed and envy.
His only vice was an occasional cigar.
Corruption is a vice that undermines trust in government.
Learner examples
Smoking is a bad vice.
A dohányzás káros szenvedély.
Greed is a common vice.
A kapzsiság gyakori erkölcsi hiba.
Lying is a moral vice.
He has a vice for gambling.
Her main vice is eating too much sugar.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'vice' with 'device' because they sound similar; they are unrelated in meaning.
Meaning
Immoral or wicked habit
Collocations
human vice
|personal vices
|gambling vice
|drug vice
|moral vice
Synonyms
sin (Often used in a religious or moral context, whereas 'vice' can be secular.)
|
fault (A less formal and less morally loaded term than 'vice'.)
Antonyms
virtue (The direct moral opposite of vice, meaning good moral quality.)
Themes
ethics
|society
|behavior
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A bad habit or way of behaving that is wrong or not moral.
A bad or immoral habit, practice, or characteristic, especially one that is socially harmful.
NOUN
B1
TECHNICAL
2
satu
B1
Usage pattern:
a vice for [holding something]
The carpenter secured the plank in a vice before sawing.
Az asztalos fűrészelés előtt satuba fogta a deszkát.
He used a bench vice to hold the metal rod steady.
A fémrúd stabil rögzítéséhez padsatut használt.
Tighten the vice so the piece won’t move.
Learner examples
He put the wood in a vice.
Betette a fát a satuba.
The worker used a vice to hold the metal.
A munkás satut használt a fém rögzítéséhez.
The tool in the shop is a vice.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this with the moral meaning of 'vice'; context usually makes it clear.
Meaning
Tool for holding objects
Collocations
bench vice
|metalworking vice
|woodworking vice
Synonyms
clamp (A more general term for devices that hold things together, not always fixed to a bench.)
Themes
tools
|construction
|work
|technology
Definition
A tool that holds something tightly so you can work on it.
A tool with two jaws that can be brought together by a screw to hold an object firmly in place while work is done on it.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
vice [title]
She was appointed vice president of marketing.
Kinevezték marketingért felelős alelnöknek.
The vice chairman will lead the meeting in the absence of the chairman.
Az elnök távollétében az elnökhelyettes vezeti majd az ülést.
He served as vice captain during the tournament.
Learner examples
He is the vice president of the company.
Ő a vállalat alelnöke.
The vice captain helped the team leader.
A csapatkapitány-helyettes segített a csapatvezetőnek.
She became the vice chairman last year.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'vice' alone means 'leader', but it refers to the second-in-command role.
Meaning
Deputy or substitute role
Collocations
vice president
|vice chairman
|vice captain
Synonyms
deputy ('Deputy' is more common outside of fixed titles, while 'vice' appears mainly in formal titles.)
Themes
leadership
|organization
|business
|work
Definition
A person who is second in command and helps a leader, often in an official title.
A person who serves as the deputy or acting replacement for someone in authority, especially in titles like 'vice president'.
Grammar
Dictionary form
vice
IPA
GB/vˈaɪs/
US/vˈaɪs/
Syllables & stress
vice (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (vice)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: vice
- Plural: vice, vices
Word family
Expressions
a necessary evil or a necessary vice
1/ə nˈɛsɪsˌɛɹi ˈivəl ˈɔɹ ə nˈɛsɪsˌɛɹi vˈaɪs/
fixed phrase
Something bad but needed
Something you do not like but must accept because it helps reach a goal.
Examples
- For many, commuting is a necessary evil.
- Some see advertising as a necessary evil of business.
vice versa
1/vˈaɪs vˈɚsə/
fixed phrase
With the order reversed
Used to say that the opposite of what you just said is also true.
Examples
- She doesn’t trust him, and vice versa.
- Dogs can be good for people, and vice versa.