Bad or immoral behaviour. (Especially often, a habit that harms oneself or others)
What is vice?
• Any of various crimes related (depending on jurisdiction) to weapons, prostitution, pornography, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
• Clipping of vice squad.
• 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.
(Noun) Alternative spelling of vise (“mechanical screw apparatus used for clamping”).
• A tool for drawing lead into cames, or flat grooved rods, for casements.
• A winding or spiral staircase.
• A grip or grasp.
(Verb) Alternative spelling of vise (“to hold or squeeze with a vice”).
(Adjective) in place of; subordinate to; designating a person below another in rank
(Preposition) Instead of; in place of; versus.
(Noun) One who acts in place of a superior.
Why vice matters
vice appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How vice works in practice
In practice, vice is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.