Reading Theme:
Vice Definition: Bad Habits, Crime, and Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：bad habit (vice)
vice
/vaɪs/
n.
A bad habit or personal weakness that is considered morally wrong.
bad habit
➕
/bæd ˈhæbɪt/
n.
A behavior or practice considered morally wrong or depraved, often habitual.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'vitium' meaning 'fault, defect'.
💡 Mnemonic
Vice sounds like 'vise' - a clamp that holds you to a bad habit.
📖 Example
To stay healthy, he decided to give up his vice of smoking.
To stay healthy, he decided to give up his vice of smoking.
🔗 Collocations
indulge in a vice – to allow oneself to engage in a bad habit
renounce a vice – to formally give up a bad habit
vice of greed – the bad habit of excessive desire
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
📖 Cultural Story
From Latin 'vitium' (fault). Initially meant physical blemish, later moral flaw. Used in 'vice squad' for police units fighting moral crimes.
Meaning 2：criminal activities (vice)
vice
/vaɪs/
n.
Criminal activities related to drugs, sex work, or gambling.
criminal activities
➕
/ˈkrɪmɪnəl ækˈtɪvɪtiz/
n.
Illegal or immoral activities, typically involving drugs, prostitution, or gambling.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The police have launched a special operation to crack down on vice in the city center.
The police have launched a special operation to crack down on vice in the city center.
🔗 Collocations
vice squad – police unit targeting moral crimes
vice crime – crime related to drugs, sex work, or gambling
organized vice – systematic illegal vice operations
🔄 Synonyms
crime (n.) – an action that violates the law
corruption (n.) – dishonest or illegal behavior, especially by powerful people
delinquency (n.) – minor crime, especially committed by young people
🚫 Antonyms
lawfulness (n.) – the quality of being legal and obedient to law
legality (n.) – the state of being in accordance with the law
order (n.) – a state of peace and obedience to laws
Wordbook
Your data is saved in this browser