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

The era of agentic AI has arrived, but there is uncertainty about what the landscape will look like when virtual storefronts become flooded with AI agents or when a business tries to block them. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026

Expedited reviews In a separate report on pipelines, members of different environmental groups spoke Wednesday during a virtual news conference. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Trualta, a free platform in Wisconsin that relaunched in 2025 after federal money ran out a year earlier, offers articles, webinars and virtual support groups to family caregivers. — Raginee Sudhir Chaurey, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

How virtual try-on works Virtual try-on uses augmented reality and AI to generate a preview of how clothing or accessories might look on a specific person. — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 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