Meaning & use
vice ring
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableformal
An organized group of criminals involved in illegal activities such as prostitution or gambling.
Grammar: Countable noun; plural is vice rings. Often used with 'a' or 'the'.
Patterns
- a vice ring operating in something
- break up a vice ring
- member of a vice ring
Police arrested several members of a vice ring operating in the city center.
The newspaper reported that a vice ring had been using the hotel as a base.
Authorities broke up a vice ring that forced women into prostitution.
Word forms
| plural | vice rings |
|---|
Common combinations
- break up a vice ring
- The FBI broke up a vice ring that spanned three states.
- vice ring operating in
- A vice ring operating in the nightclub district was shut down.
- member of a vice ring
- He was accused of being a member of a vice ring.
- international vice ring
- An international vice ring was uncovered by investigators.
Synonyms and how they differ
- crime ring
- Crime ring is broader and can refer to any illegal activity, while vice ring specifically involves prostitution, gambling, or similar offenses.
- syndicate
- Syndicate is a more general term for an organized criminal group, not limited to vice crimes.
Word family
- vice noun
- Immoral or criminal behavior, especially involving sex or drugs.
Commonly confused: vice ring or vice squad?
vice ring vs vice squad
Vice squad is the police unit that investigates vice crimes, while a vice ring is the criminal group itself.
Practice
What is a 'vice ring'?
Choose one answer.
A vice ring is an organized criminal group dealing in vice crimes such as prostitution or gambling. The other options confuse it with 'vice squad' (police) or 'ring' as jewelry.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vice ring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.