virtuosity

noun

vir·​tu·​os·​i·​ty ˌvər-chü-ˈä-sə-tē 

plural virtuosities

1

: great technical skill (as in the practice of a fine art)

2

: a taste for or interest in virtu

Did you know?

Virtuosity is used particularly to describe musicians, but also often for writers, actors, dancers, and athletes. A virtuoso is a highly skilled performer, and a virtuoso performance is one that astonishes the audience by its feats. In ancient Greece the cities would hold male competitions in acrobatics, conjuring, public reciting, blowing the trumpet, and acting out scenes from Homer's epics, the winners of which would have been praised as virtuous, or "full of manly virtues".

Examples of virtuosity in a Sentence

Her virtuosity on the piano is amazing.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a time when peers such as the New York Dolls and Velvet Underground were upending rock and roll with glamour and arty disaffection, Television fulfilled the genre’s promises of both swaggering virtuosity and restless reinvention. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

The resulting sensorium never sounds overly fussy or strained for virtuosity. — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026

The dynamic duo’s show is a mix of stand-up comedy, character sketches, video montages and bluegrass music (a la Steve Martin’s banjo-brilliant virtuosity and special guests Jeff Babko and Steep Canyon Rangers). — Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026

The novel begins with Percheron contemplating news of Field’s death, and proceeds to trace their youths, including their meeting, in 1807, when Field is humbled by Percheron’s virtuosity on the piano. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for virtuosity

• atrocity
• ferocity
• monstrosity
• pomposity
• porosity
• precocity
• schistosity
• velocity
• verbosity
• viscosity
• animosity
• curiosity

Kids Definition

virtuosity

noun

vir·​tu·​os·​i·​ty ˌvər-chə-ˈwäs-ət-ē 

plural virtuosities

: great performing ability in the fine arts