vice
/vaɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /vaɪs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvīs/ (ame, mw)
vice — prefix
1. placed before a job title to indicate that a person holds the position directly
placed before a job title to indicate that a person holds the position directly below the top role and has the authority to take over the top person's duties when needed.
Wren was promoted to vice-president of marketing at the Tokyo office last year.
vice- + job title: vice-president
The vice-chairman, Justin, will lead the board meeting in the chairperson's absence.
Sana has applied for the position of vice-principal at the high school near her home.
João was elected vice-captain of the university debating society in his second year.
文法句型
vice- + noun (title)
用法筆記
In British English, the prefix is often hyphenated (vice-president, vice-chairman). In American English, it is more commonly written without a hyphen (vice president, vice chairman). Some well-established compounds like vice-president are written with a hyphen in both varieties.
常見錯誤
vice — noun
- vicesingular
- vicesplural
1. a bad quality in a person's character, such as a habit or way of behaving that i
a bad quality in a person's character, such as a habit or way of behaving that is morally wrong or harmful to themselves or others.
Greed is a human vice that can destroy friendships and tear families apart.
countable: a vice = a particular bad quality
The old novel shows a town caught between the forces of virtue and vice.
uncountable: vice = general wickedness
Mayumi says that smoking is her only real vice, apart from drinking too much coffee.
Each character in the story represents a different human vice, such as envy or pride.
- fault
broader term; can describe non-moral flaws (e.g. a fault in a machine) unlike 'vice' which is always about character
- sin
stronger religious or moral judgment; implies violation of divine law rather than personal character
- weakness
softer; a person may try to resist a weakness, whereas a vice is more ingrained
- virtue
the opposite moral quality; a good habit or positive character trait
文法句型
vice (uncountable): general wickedness
a vice (countable): a particular bad habit or fault
用法筆記
This sense covers both general wickedness (uncountable, no article) and specific bad habits or moral flaws (countable, 'a vice'). When used humorously about small personal habits ('chocolate is my only vice'), it softens the moral judgment.
常見錯誤
2. illegal behaviour connected with prostitution, drug use, gambling, and similar a
illegal behaviour connected with prostitution, drug use, gambling, and similar activities, often organised out of public sight in a city.
The city's vice squad arrested several people for running illegal gambling houses.
compound: vice squad = police unit targeting these crimes
Parts of the downtown area are known for vice, including drug dealing and prostitution.
The mayor promised to clean up vice in the entertainment district before the international festival.
A task force was formed to fight organised vice and human trafficking in the region.
- crime
much broader; covers all illegal acts, not specifically those related to sex, drugs, or gambling
- corruption
focuses on dishonest or fraudulent behaviour by people in power, not the same street-level activities
文法句型
vice (uncountable): criminal activity as a category
用法筆記
Always uncountable in this sense. Used especially in law enforcement and journalism. The compound 'vice squad' refers to a police unit that deals specifically with this type of crime.
常見錯誤
3. a workshop tool made of two hard surfaces that close around an object when you t
a workshop tool made of two hard surfaces that close around an object when you turn a handle, keeping it from moving while you saw or shape it.
Ravindra clamped the piece of wood in the vice before cutting it with a saw.
collocation: clamp in a vice
Using a bench vice, the metalworker held the steel bar steady while filing its rough edges.
compound: bench vice
A good workshop vice can hold pipes and other round objects without damaging them.
Jisoo held the metal pipe steady in the workshop vice while cutting it with a hacksaw.
- clamp
broader term; any tool for holding things together, not limited to the screw-based jaw design of a vice
文法句型
a vice
in a vice
bench vice
用法筆記
Spelled 'vice' in British English and 'vise' in American English. The two spellings refer to the same tool. This sense is unrelated in origin to the other meanings of 'vice' — it comes from a different Latin word (vitis, meaning 'vine' or 'twist').
常見錯誤
vice — preposition
1. used in formal or legal writing to mean 'in the place of' or 'as a replacement f
used in formal or legal writing to mean 'in the place of' or 'as a replacement for' someone, especially when naming a new appointee.
Élise was appointed as finance director vice Ziad, who retired after thirty years of service.
formal appointment formula: [name] vice [name]
Mr Obi attended the international trade conference vice the company president, who was ill.
Yael was named head of the research team vice Madison, who had moved to the Singapore office.
Ritu signed the annual report vice the chief executive, who was on leave at the time.
- in place of
less formal and more widely understood; suitable for most contexts
- instead of
the everyday equivalent; appropriate in both spoken and written English
文法句型
[person appointed] vice [person replaced]
用法筆記
This is a highly formal Latin borrowing used almost exclusively in official documents, corporate minutes, and legal appointments. In everyday English, 'instead of' or 'in place of' is used instead. Do not confuse this preposition with the noun meaning 'moral fault' — they are unrelated words that happen to share the same spelling.