We have investigated heterogeneous oxidation of alcohols using crystalline molybdenum vanadium oxide (Mo-V-O) as catalyst with molecular oxygen as oxidant. The major product from primary alcohol was aldehyde, the secondary alcohol was mainly dehydrated to olefin, and the oxidation of cyclic alcohols chiefly afforded ketones. A Hammett plot suggested that hydride abstraction might be involved in the reaction step. We have discussed possible reaction mechanism based on substrate adsorption and activation on catalytically active sites.