virtual

adjective

vir·​tu·​al ˈvər-chə-wəl 

-chəl;

ˈvərch-wəl

1

: being such in essence or effect though not formally recognized or admitted

a virtual dictator

2

: being on or simulated on a computer or computer network

print or virtual books

a virtual keyboard

: such as

a

: occurring or existing primarily online

virtual shopping

b

: of, relating to, or existing within a virtual reality

a virtual tour

3

: of, relating to, or using virtual memory

4

: of, relating to, or being a hypothetical particle whose existence is inferred from indirect evidence

virtual photons

compare real sense 3

Examples of virtual in a Sentence

The website provides a virtual tour of the stadium.

Recent Examples on the Web

Efficiently Capturing Available Incentives Federal tax credits under the IRA, state-level incentives and emerging revenue streams such as virtual power plant participation all materially affect installation economics. — Vinesh Karthic Padmanabhan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Soon, Nvidia was touting virtual-reality simulators to train robots, and microchips to deploy in robot brains. — Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Lauper and Spielberg joined the Goonies cast for a virtual reunion in April 2020. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026

Instead, the Event Horizon Telescope linked radio observatories across the globe using a technique called Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), effectively creating an Earth-sized virtual telescope. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, efficacious, potential, from Medieval Latin virtualis, from Latin virtus strength, virtue

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing virtual

• virtual colonoscopy
• virtual image
• virtual memory
• virtual private network
• virtual reality

Kids Definition

virtual

adjective

vir·​tu·​al ˈvərch-(ə-)wəl 

ˈvər-chəl

1

: being in effect but not in fact or name

a virtual dictator

2

: being on or simulated on a computer or computer network

a virtual classroom

virtually

-ē

adverb