Word
vice
Meanings
a bad or immoral habit or behavior that a person finds difficult to control
a tool with two jaws that tightens to hold an object firmly in place, especially on a workbench
a prefix meaning “deputy” or “second in rank,” used in titles and roles
Definition
A vice is either an immoral habit or a tool that clamps and holds something firmly.
A vice can mean a bad or harmful habit, such as gambling or excessive drinking, that is hard to stop. It can also refer to a metal tool fixed to a workbench that grips objects tightly so they can be worked on safely. In some contexts, it is used to describe a deputy position, as in “vice president.”
Examples
- I’ve learned that perfectionism can become a vice when it prevents me from finishing anything.
- You can spot his vice in how he reaches for a drink whenever the conversation turns difficult.
- Her vice was social media, and she kept checking her phone even during important meetings.
- They treated shopping as a harmless vice, but it started affecting their relationships.
- The carpenter tightened the vice and began filing the metal edge with steady precision.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse vice (a bad habit) with vise (the tool), though “vice” is commonly used for both in British English.
More at C1 level
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