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

Meanwhile, the reinforcement learning system was trained using hundreds of millions of simulated disturbances in a virtual environment. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026

Digital twins — virtual replicas of buildings — allow AI to catch design flaws and cost overruns before a single shovel hits the ground. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026

Over virtual combat, Chavez and Eberhardt formed a virtual friendship. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026

For the last two years, the Dodgers dedicated a game to vtubers — virtual streamers played by humans behind the scenes — in an effort to tap into other fandoms and collectors and create hype. —Mia Sato, The Verge, 1 Mar. 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