virtue

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noun vir·tue \ ˈvər-(ˌ)chü \

Definition of virtue

1 a :conformity to a standard of right :morality

b :a particular moral excellence

2 :a beneficial quality or power of a thing

3 :manly strength or courage :valor

4 :a commendable quality or trait :merit

5 :a capacity to act :potency

6 :chastity especially in a woman

7 virtues plural :an order of angels — see celestial hierarchy

—

virtueless

play \ˈvər-(ˌ)chü-ləs\ adjective

— by virtue of or in virtue of

:through the force of :by authority of

See virtue defined for English-language learners

See virtue defined for kids

Examples of virtue in a Sentence

He led me across the concrete floor, through a concrete warehouse, and to the concrete screening room, where he began to extol the virtue and beauty of his eleven-mile-long sewage interceptor. —Frederick Kaufman, Harper's, February 2008
Disinterestedness was the most common term the founders used as a synonym for the classical conception of virtue or self-sacrifice; it better conveyed the threats from interests that virtue seemed increasingly to face in the rapidly commercializing eighteenth century. —Gordon S. Wood, Revolutionary Characters, 2006
It was not only his title that made Poor Richard—and by extension [Benjamin] Franklin—an honorary Frenchman. He may well have devoted a great amount of ink to virtue and order, but he checked those concepts at the door of the beau monde; he made it clear that he was not too good for that world … —Stacy Schiff, A Great Improvisation, 2005
Nerviness is considered a virtue, a good machine, an energy that builds nations, businesses and dynasties. Handed down from generation to generation, like a caustic strand of DNA, it infects the unhappy, the unfortunate and the unlucky, and turns them into desperate strivers, prepared to do anything to realize their ridiculous ambitions. —David Byrne, The New Sins/Los Nuevos Pecados, 2001
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall … —William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, 1605
the virtue of wool as a clothing material is that it can provide insulation from the cold even when wet
a lady of honor and virtue

Recent Examples of virtue from the Web

By virtue of their 7 p.m. kick-off Thursday at Roger Bacon's Bron Bacevich Stadium, the Titans and Tigers will be the first football offering.

— scott springer, Cincinnati.com, "Play it forward: St. Bernard, Bethel, CPS to raise funds for Hurricane Harvey relief," 29 Aug. 2017
But many white suffragists didn’t advocate for the ending of lynching because protecting white women’s virtue was often the excuse used to justify the brutal act.

— evette dionne, Teen Vogue, "Women's Suffrage Leaders Left Out Black Women," 18 Aug. 2017
Virtue’s Smooth shampoo is thick and tacky, and appears counterintuitive to any notion of a cleansing agent.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "The Best New Shampoo Is Made From Human Hair," 15 Aug. 2017
The Royals have long extolled the virtues of Gordon’s defense in left field.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "After two games, Royals’ Alex Gordon returns to the lineup," 10 Aug. 2017
McCain’s relationship with Trump has long been testy, dating back at least to Trump’s declaration two years ago that McCain was not a war hero by virtue of having been captured.

— Washington Post, "Cancer isn’t silencing McCain in career’s latest chapter," 20 July 2017
On Wednesday, Trump was once again extolling the virtues of the Senate’s original repeal-and-replace bill, and his allies were saying the president was likely to rally Republicans around that legislation.

— laura litvan, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Urges Senate GOP to Delay Recess as Health Talks Revived," 19 July 2017
Guardians of public virtue were furious that this had gone ahead in secret.

— The Economist, "If human cloning happenedHow the story of human cloning could unfold," 13 July 2017
In his capacity as a big money Innate investors, Collins (reportedly) sold several of his fellow Republican congressmen on the virtues of investing in the company.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "GOP Lawmakers Bought Health-Insurance Stocks While Advancing Trumpcare," 7 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'virtue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of virtue

Middle English vertu, virtu, from Anglo-French, from Latin virtut-, virtus strength, manliness, virtue, from vir man — more at virile

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

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virtue Synonyms

Synonyms

cardinal virtue, distinction, excellency, grace, merit, value, excellence

Antonyms

deficiency, demerit, disvalue

Related Words

advantage, edge, plus, superiority

Near Antonyms

blemish, defect, failing, fault, flaw; drawback, minus, negative

VIRTUE Defined for English Language Learners

virtue

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noun

Definition of virtue for English Language Learners

: morally good behavior or character
: a good and moral quality
: the good result that comes from something

VIRTUE Defined for Kids

virtue

play

noun vir·tue \ ˈvər-chü \

Definition of virtue for Students

1 :morally good behavior or character

We were urged to lead lives of virtue.

2 :a good, moral, or desirable quality

Patience is a virtue.

3 :the good result that comes from something

I learned the virtue of hard work.

— by virtue of

:because of :through the force of

She succeeded by virtue of persistence.

History for virtue

From the Latin word vir, meaning “man,” the Romans formed the word virtus to describe such so-called “manly” qualities as firmness of purpose and courage. Gradually this word was used for any good qualities in males or females. The English word virtue came by way of French from Latin virtus.