1
a
: a person who has not had sexual intercourse
b
: a person who is inexperienced in a usually specified sphere of activity
2
a
: an unmarried woman devoted to religion
b
capitalized
: virgo
3
a
: an absolutely chaste young woman
b
: an unmarried girl or woman
4
capitalized
: virgin mary
5
: a female animal that has never copulated
1
: chaste
3
of a vegetable oil
: obtained from the first light pressing and without heating
4
a(1)
: being used or worked for the first time
virgin lumber
see also virgin wool
(2)
of a metal
: produced directly from ore by primary smelting
5
: containing no alcohol
a virgin daiquiri
6
: free of impurity or stain : unsullied
7
: characteristic of or befitting a virgin : modest
Synonyms
Examples of virgin in a Sentence
Noun
a virgin in the world of comedy clubs, he's still learning to deal with hecklers
Adjective
encouraged the virgin youths to remain chaste
the state's only remaining virgin forest
Recent Examples on the Web
Maya Phillips, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2023
The researchers recommend choosing virgin and extra virgin avocado oil that is green and has mild flavors.
—Good Housekeeping, 4 June 2023
Rather, a good quality olive oil, like extra virgin, is the best variety for the job.
—Christina Manian, Rdn, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2023
To be a soap opera heroine is to be a virgin, especially in the Nineties.
—Maitland Ward, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2023
When the group meets Kat’s fiancé (Desmond Chiam) and takes in the hunky, shirtless virgin in sultry slow motion, the look of confusion on Deadeye’s face is priceless.
—Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 5 July 2023
The teenager’s helicopter parents don’t want their son going off to college as a virgin.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 27 June 2023
The one notable exception was the Vestal Virgins—the priestesses charged with keeping alight the sacred flame of the goddess Vesta in the Forum, while also remaining virgins under penalty of death.
—Mary Beard, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
Westland uses virgin and used casks to age its single malts, allowing the flavors of its recipes’ different barley varieties to shine through.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 June 2023
Sarah Maberry, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Sep. 2023
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit working with activists and lawyers to confront climate issues, explains that the current demand for virgin cashmere exceeds supply in a sustainable way.
—Paula Lee, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2023
While the Montreal Protocol banned global production and consumption of virgin CFCs, existing stockpiles of CFCs (that were produced before the ban and that continue to be used for old equipment), can still be recovered, reclaimed, and reused.
—Megesh Tiwari, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2023
My deep-throat source told me that some of the manufacturers were pre-aging the asphalt by blowing an excessive amount of air into the virgin asphalt.
—Tim Carter, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2023
The pines, birches and aspens that fringe the Northern Hemisphere are a primary source of virgin pulp to make toilet paper, particularly older, mature trees with longer fibers that manufacturers want to create an ultrasoft texture.
—Michael J. Coren, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Apr. 2023
The company’s global issuing partners will be supported through the transition away from virgin PVC.
—Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 4 May 2023
Designed and engineered in Germany, this shockingly rugged polycarbonate suitcase was the first of its kind (initially released in 2008) and has set the mold for its competitors, as it’s made from virgin polycarbonate that’s highly resistant to extreme temperatures and retains its color over time.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2023
The researchers recommend choosing virgin and extra virgin avocado oil that is green and has mild flavors.
—Good Housekeeping, 4 June 2023
See More
Noun
Lolo’s vulgar line of questioning and theories about Kat’s private art, paired with the reveal that Kat pretends to be a chaste virgin in her relationship with her very Christian fiancé, build up the comedic tension.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2023
The researchers recommend choosing virgin and extra virgin avocado oil that is green and has mild flavors.
—Good Housekeeping, 4 June 2023
Rather, a good quality olive oil, like extra virgin, is the best variety for the job.
—Christina Manian, Rdn, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2023
To be a soap opera heroine is to be a virgin, especially in the Nineties.
—Maitland Ward, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2023
When the group meets Kat’s fiancé (Desmond Chiam) and takes in the hunky, shirtless virgin in sultry slow motion, the look of confusion on Deadeye’s face is priceless.
—Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 5 July 2023
The teenager’s helicopter parents don’t want their son going off to college as a virgin.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 27 June 2023
The one notable exception was the Vestal Virgins—the priestesses charged with keeping alight the sacred flame of the goddess Vesta in the Forum, while also remaining virgins under penalty of death.
—Mary Beard, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
Westland uses virgin and used casks to age its single malts, allowing the flavors of its recipes’ different barley varieties to shine through.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 June 2023
Adjective
And instead of using virgin plastic, Olive & June press-ons are made using 94 percent post-consumer recycled materials.
—Sarah Maberry, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Sep. 2023
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit working with activists and lawyers to confront climate issues, explains that the current demand for virgin cashmere exceeds supply in a sustainable way.
—Paula Lee, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2023
While the Montreal Protocol banned global production and consumption of virgin CFCs, existing stockpiles of CFCs (that were produced before the ban and that continue to be used for old equipment), can still be recovered, reclaimed, and reused.
—Megesh Tiwari, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2023
My deep-throat source told me that some of the manufacturers were pre-aging the asphalt by blowing an excessive amount of air into the virgin asphalt.
—Tim Carter, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2023
The pines, birches and aspens that fringe the Northern Hemisphere are a primary source of virgin pulp to make toilet paper, particularly older, mature trees with longer fibers that manufacturers want to create an ultrasoft texture.
—Michael J. Coren, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Apr. 2023
The company’s global issuing partners will be supported through the transition away from virgin PVC.
—Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 4 May 2023
Designed and engineered in Germany, this shockingly rugged polycarbonate suitcase was the first of its kind (initially released in 2008) and has set the mold for its competitors, as it’s made from virgin polycarbonate that’s highly resistant to extreme temperatures and retains its color over time.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2023
The researchers recommend choosing virgin and extra virgin avocado oil that is green and has mild flavors.
—Good Housekeeping, 4 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'virgin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing virgin
Dictionary Entries Near virgin
Cite this Entry
“Virgin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virgin. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
virgin
1 of 2 noun
vir·gin
ˈvər-jən 
: a person who has not had sexual intercourse
virgin
2 of 2 adjective1
: being a virgin
2
: not soiled
virgin snow
especially
: not altered by human activity
virgin soil
3
: being used or worked for the first time
virgin wool
Medical Definition
Geographical Definition
Virgin
geographical name
Vir·gin
ˈvər-jən
river 200 miles (322 kilometers) long in southwestern Utah and southeastern Nevada flowing to Lake Mead
More from Merriam-Webster on virgin
Nglish: Translation of virgin for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of virgin for Arabic Speakers
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