This list includes 54 Nouns that start with V, from “vacancy” to “vulnerability”. Entries range from everyday words to technical and academic terms useful for study, writing, and language practice.
Nouns that start with V are words that name people, places, things, or ideas beginning with the letter V. They include familiar items like “village” and more specialized terms like “voltage” or “variance”, offering useful vocabulary for many contexts.
Below you’ll find the table with Noun, Definition, and Example.
Noun: The word as listed alphabetically so you can find and recognize each entry quickly.
Definition: A concise one-line meaning that gives you a clear, practical sense of the noun.
Example: A short natural sentence showing how you can use the noun in everyday or academic writing.
Nouns that start with V
| Noun | Countability | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| vacancy | countable | An available job or an unoccupied room in a hotel. | The company posted a vacancy for a new marketing manager. |
| vacation | both | A period of time spent away from home or work for rest. | We are planning a two-week vacation to the sunny beaches. |
| vaccine | countable | A substance that provides immunity against one or several diseases. | The doctor administered the new flu vaccine to the patients. |
| vacuum | countable | A space entirely devoid of matter or a device for cleaning. | The scientist created a perfect vacuum in the sealed chamber. |
| validation | uncountable | The action of checking or proving the validity of something. | He sought validation from his peers for his new theory. |
| valley | countable | A low area of land between hills or mountains. | The river flows gently through the lush green valley below. |
| valor | uncountable | Great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. | The soldier was awarded a medal for his exceptional valor. |
| value | both | The importance, worth, or usefulness of something; principles or standards. | They learned the great value of hard work from their parents. |
| van | countable | A medium-sized motor vehicle, used for transporting goods or people. | The delivery driver loaded all the packages into his van. |
| vanilla | uncountable | A substance from a tropical orchid used to flavor food. | She added a teaspoon of pure vanilla to the cake batter. |
| vanity | uncountable | Excessive pride in or admiration of one’s own appearance or achievements. | His vanity was so great he looked in every passing mirror. |
| variety | both | The quality of being different or diverse; a specific type. | The store offers a wide variety of fresh, local fruits. |
| vase | countable | An open container, often decorative, used for holding flowers. | He placed the beautiful red roses into a tall glass vase. |
| veal | uncountable | The meat of young cattle, as opposed to beef from older cattle. | The chef prepared a classic Italian dish made with veal. |
| vegetable | countable | A plant or part of a plant used as food. | Carrots and broccoli are my favorite types of vegetable to eat. |
| vegetarian | countable | A person who does not eat meat or fish. | My sister has been a strict vegetarian for over ten years. |
| vehicle | countable | A machine used for transporting people or goods on land. | A car is the most common type of personal transportation vehicle. |
| veil | countable | A piece of fine material worn to protect or conceal the face. | The bride wore a beautiful white dress and a long veil. |
| vein | countable | Any of the tubes forming part of the blood circulation system. | The nurse had trouble finding a suitable vein for the injection. |
| velocity | uncountable | The speed of something in a given direction. | The velocity of the spacecraft increased as it left Earth’s orbit. |
| venture | countable | A risky or daring journey or undertaking, especially in business. | Her new coffee shop was a very successful business venture. |
| venue | countable | The place where something happens, especially an organized event. | The concert will be held at a large outdoor music venue. |
| verdict | countable | A decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case. | The jury finally reached a guilty verdict after much deliberation. |
| version | countable | A particular form of something differing in certain respects from others. | The company released a new and improved version of its app. |
| vessel | countable | A ship or large boat; a hollow container for liquid. | The large cargo vessel sailed slowly into the busy port. |
| vest | countable | A sleeveless upper-body garment worn over a dress shirt. | He wore a formal three-piece suit with a matching gray vest. |
| veteran | countable | A person who has had long experience, especially in the military. | The city parade honored the brave veterans of past wars. |
| vibe | countable | A person’s emotional state or the atmosphere of a place. | The coffee shop has a very relaxed and friendly vibe. |
| vicinity | uncountable | The area near or surrounding a particular place. | There are no good restaurants in the immediate vicinity of here. |
| victim | countable | A person harmed, injured, or killed by a crime or event. | The paramedics rushed to help the injured car accident victim. |
| victory | both | An act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a competition. | The team celebrated their hard-earned victory after the final match. |
| video | both | A recording of moving visual images made digitally or on videotape. | She watched a funny cat video on her phone last night. |
| view | countable | A sight or prospect, typically of a landscape; an opinion. | The hotel room had a beautiful view of the entire city. |
| vigor | uncountable | Physical strength and good health; effort, energy, and enthusiasm. | He started his new job with tremendous vigor and excitement. |
| village | countable | A group of houses and associated buildings in a rural area. | He grew up in a small, quiet fishing village by the sea. |
| villain | countable | A character whose evil actions or motives are important to a plot. | The story’s villain wanted to take over the entire world. |
| vinegar | uncountable | A sour-tasting liquid used as a condiment or for cleaning. | She dressed the fresh salad with some olive oil and vinegar. |
| violence | uncountable | Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill. | The news report showed the terrible eruption of violence overseas. |
| violin | countable | A stringed musical instrument played with a bow. | Her daughter is learning to play the violin at school. |
| virtue | both | Behavior showing high moral standards; a good or desirable quality. | Patience is considered to be a great virtue in life. |
| virus | countable | An infective agent that replicates inside living cells of other organisms. | The common cold is caused by a type of airborne virus. |
| visa | countable | An endorsement on a passport indicating the holder can enter a country. | He applied for a student visa to study in the UK. |
| vision | both | The faculty of sight; the ability to think about the future. | The company leader shared her clear vision for future growth. |
| visitor | countable | A person visiting someone or a place. | We are expecting an important visitor from the main office today. |
| vocabulary | both | The body of words used in a particular language. | Reading books is a great way to expand your vocabulary. |
| voice | countable | The sound produced in a person’s larynx and uttered through the mouth. | She has a beautiful singing voice that everyone loves to hear. |
| volcano | countable | A mountain or hill with a crater through which lava has erupted. | The eruption of the volcano covered the town in ash. |
| volume | both | The amount of space an object occupies; the level of sound. | Please turn down the volume of the music on the television. |
| volunteer | countable | A person who freely offers to undertake a task or service. | The hospital is looking for a volunteer to help patients. |
| voter | countable | A person who votes or has the right to vote. | Every eligible voter should participate in the upcoming local election. |
| vow | countable | A solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment. | They exchanged wedding vows in front of all their friends. |
| vowel | countable | A speech sound produced without audible friction in the vocal tract. | The English letters A, E, I, O, and U are vowels. |
| voyage | countable | A long journey involving travel by sea or in space. | The famous explorer wrote a book about his long ocean voyage. |
| vulnerability | uncountable | The quality of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked. | The system’s main vulnerability was its very outdated software. |
Descriptions
vacancy
Often used in job postings (“job vacancy”) or on hotel signs (“No Vacancies”). It implies an empty space waiting to be filled.
vacation
In American English, ‘vacation’ is common. In British English, ‘holiday’ is used more often for the same concept.
vaccine
The word comes from *vacca*, the Latin word for cow, related to the first smallpox vaccine which was derived from cowpox.
vacuum
Can refer to the physical concept of empty space or, more commonly, a household vacuum cleaner used for cleaning floors and carpets.
validation
Often used in psychology to describe the feeling of being accepted and having one’s feelings recognized as worthwhile. Also common in computing.
valley
A common geographical feature. Silicon Valley is a famous example, named for the silicon chip manufacturers located in the Santa Clara Valley.
valor
A formal and literary term often used to describe heroic bravery in military contexts. It is a synonym for courage and bravery.
value
Can be uncountable (the value of education) or countable, especially when referring to moral principles (our family’s values).
van
Typically larger than a car but smaller than a truck. A “minivan” is a popular type of family vehicle.
vanilla
Besides the flavor, “vanilla” is used informally as an adjective to mean plain, basic, or unexciting, especially in technology or relationships.
vanity
Often has negative connotations, suggesting a focus on superficial qualities. A “vanity plate” is a customized car license plate.
variety
Can be uncountable (we need variety in our diet) or countable (a variety of apple). “Variety is the spice of life” is a popular idiom.
vase
A common household object. Pronunciation can vary: “vays” is common in American English, while “vahz” is more typical in British English.
veal
Considered a delicacy in many cuisines, but its production is controversial for some due to animal welfare concerns.
vegetable
A fundamental food group noun. In informal, often offensive slang, it can refer to a person who is mentally or physically incapacitated.
vegetarian
Vegetarianism is a dietary choice often made for ethical, environmental, or health reasons. A “vegan” is stricter, avoiding all animal products.
vehicle
A broad term that includes cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles. It can also be used metaphorically for a means of expression (art is a vehicle for emotion).
veil
Often associated with weddings or as a religious or cultural head-covering. Metaphorically, it can mean something that conceals the truth.
vein
In geology, a vein is a distinct sheet-like body of crystallized minerals within a rock. Also used metaphorically (“a rich vein of humor”).
velocity
A key term in physics. While “speed” just describes how fast something is moving, “velocity” also includes the direction of movement.
venture
Strongly associated with business and finance, as in “venture capital.” It implies a project that has both risk and the potential for reward.
venue
A common term for places like concert halls, stadiums, conference centers, or wedding locations.
verdict
A key legal term. It can also be used generally to mean an opinion after testing something (“the verdict is in on the new phone”).
version
Extremely common in technology (software version 2.0), film (the director’s cut version), and publishing (a revised version of the book).
vessel
A formal word for a boat. It is also used in biology to refer to a tube that carries liquid, like a blood vessel.
vest
In American English, it’s the sleeveless garment. In British English, “vest” often refers to an undershirt, and they call the outer garment a “waistcoat.”
veteran
While often referring to former military personnel, it can also describe someone with extensive experience in any field, like a “veteran actor.”
vibe
A common informal word, short for “vibration.” It’s used to describe the general feeling or mood of a person, place, or situation.
vicinity
Often used in the phrase “in the vicinity of,” meaning “near” or “approximately.” It is more formal than “neighborhood” or “area.”
victim
A serious word used in legal and news contexts. The term “victim blaming” refers to the act of holding the victim responsible for their harm.
victory
Can be countable (a victory) or uncountable (the sweet taste of victory). It is often used in sports, military contexts, and politics.
video
A ubiquitous term in the digital age. It can be countable (a video) or uncountable as a medium (I work in video production).
view
Can mean a literal scene (“a room with a view”) or a person’s perspective or opinion (“in my view…”). A very common and versatile noun.
vigor
An abstract noun that suggests vitality and energetic activity. It is often associated with youth and health.
village
Typically smaller than a town and larger than a hamlet. The term often evokes a sense of close-knit community.
villain
A key archetype in storytelling, representing the antagonist or “bad guy.” Its origin relates to a feudal-era farm worker.
vinegar
The name literally means “sour wine,” from French *vin aigre*. It’s a staple in kitchens worldwide for cooking, pickling, and even household cleaning.
violence
A serious and powerful abstract noun. While usually uncountable, it can be countable in specific contexts, such as “acts of violence.”
violin
The smallest and highest-pitched instrument in the string family of an orchestra. A person who plays the violin is called a violinist.
virtue
Can be uncountable (a person of virtue) or countable (the seven virtues). It’s the opposite of “vice.” The phrase “by virtue of” means “as a result of.”
virus
A term from biology that has been adopted by computer science to describe malicious software. The plural is *viruses*.
visa
A crucial document for international travel, allowing a non-citizen to enter, stay, or work in a foreign country for a specific period.
vision
Can refer to physical eyesight (20/20 vision) or a metaphorical plan for the future. It can also describe a supernatural experience.
visitor
A common word for a guest or tourist. In web analytics, it refers to a user who navigates to a website.
vocabulary
Can be countable (a specific vocabulary, like medical vocabulary) or uncountable (the size of one’s vocabulary). A key noun for language learners.
voice
Can refer to the physical sound of speech or singing, or metaphorically to a right of expression (“give a voice to the voiceless”).
volcano
There are about 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide. Many are located along the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire.”
volume
Has multiple meanings: a book in a series (Volume I), sound level, or the scientific measure of three-dimensional space.
volunteer
Often associated with charity, community service, and non-profit organizations. It emphasizes that the work is done without payment.
voter
A fundamental noun in a democracy. The right to vote is often called “suffrage” or the “franchise.”
vow
Often used in formal or serious contexts, especially for marriage ceremonies (“wedding vows”) or religious commitments.
vowel
A fundamental concept in linguistics and learning to read and write. The opposite of a vowel is a consonant.
voyage
Implies a longer, more significant journey than a “trip.” It is strongly associated with historical sea exploration and modern space travel.
vulnerability
Used in contexts from psychology (emotional vulnerability) to cybersecurity (security vulnerability). It signifies a state of weakness.