virtue
noun
vir·tue
ˈvər-(ˌ)chü 
1
: morally good behavior or character
those who lead lives of virtue
2
: a good and moral quality
Patience is a virtue.
The very virtue of compassion in thee …—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare3
: the good result that comes from something
the virtue of hard work
4
: an advantage or benefit
One of the virtues of this job is the flexible hours.
… red pepper's medicinal virtues …—Anne Mendelson
Anne Mendelson5
: strength or courage : valor
But amid all his masculine and English virtue, he has this weak touch of meekness, or acceptance of the powers that be.—G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton6
: a capacity to act : potency
She had the virtue to confront her bully.
7
: chastity
8
see also:
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
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 on the Web
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini has earned praise from every opposing coach across the league in his first two NHL seasons, and Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff also took a minute Tuesday to extoll the 19-year-old’s virtues.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
The situation calls for simplicity, somebody who can distill the game down to its most basic parts and sell this squad on the virtues of enjoying their football again, within a framework that’s quick to install in the Premier League.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
And the service culture, rooted in the Quranic virtue of hospitality, comes with a rare degree of social tolerance for an Islamic country; King Mohammed VI’s support for tourism effectively shields foreigners from harsh religious strictures.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Executives have been preaching the virtues of consolidation, framing it as the only way for legacy media companies to compete with technology companies.
—Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for virtue
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
The situation calls for simplicity, somebody who can distill the game down to its most basic parts and sell this squad on the virtues of enjoying their football again, within a framework that’s quick to install in the Premier League.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
And the service culture, rooted in the Quranic virtue of hospitality, comes with a rare degree of social tolerance for an Islamic country; King Mohammed VI’s support for tourism effectively shields foreigners from harsh religious strictures.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Executives have been preaching the virtues of consolidation, framing it as the only way for legacy media companies to compete with technology companies.
—Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for virtue
Cite this Entry
“Virtue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virtue. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Etymology
Middle English vertu, virtu "behavior that fits with what is right or moral," from early French virtu (same meaning), from Latin virtus "strength, virtue, manly quality," from vir "man, male" — related to virile
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
