virtuosity

noun vir·tu·os·i·ty \ ˌvər-chü-ˈä-sə-tē \

Definition of virtuosity

plural virtuosities

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

2 :a taste for or interest in virtu

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Examples of virtuosity in a Sentence

Her virtuosity on the piano is amazing.

Recent Examples of virtuosity from the Web

Emerging artists begin their careers placing virtuosity first; any sense of personality peaks out from the confines of impressively energetic tempos.

— david patrick stearns, Philly.com, "Young pianist shines at orchestra's Mann Center Tchaikovsky show," 20 July 2017
The Hollywood Reporter's original review is below: Strangers on a Train is an admirable demonstration of Alfred Hitchcock's virtuosity in the area of suspense dramas.

— thr staff, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Strangers on a Train': THR's 1951 Review," 30 June 2017
The Hollywood Reporter's original review is below: Strangers on a Train is an admirable demonstration of Alfred Hitchcock's virtuosity in the area of suspense dramas.

— thr staff, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Strangers on a Train': THR's 1951 Review," 30 June 2017
But in dealing with such weighty and dark themes, the book suffers from an inconsistency in tone—jarring transitions, from virtuosity and snark to heavy handedness and moralizing, make Roy sound unconvincing as a narrator.

— neha sharma, New Republic, "Arundhati Roy Has Reinvented the Social Novel," 27 June 2017
In Ayón’s hands, the process became one of staggering virtuosity.

— holland cotter, New York Times, "From Cuba, a Stolen Myth," 22 June 2017
Amigo has more than lived up to his promise, with pyrotechnic virtuosity, charisma, and that intangible quality of soulful emotion the Spanish call duende.

— jim harrington, The Mercury News, "SFJAZZ releases blockbuster 2017-18 season lineup," 15 June 2017
His buoyant eclecticism and forward-looking pop virtuosity is about as American as anything can be.

— john adamian, courant.com, "John Legend To Play Foxwoods," 14 June 2017
Salgán, the most exquisite composer of all, is the king of virtuosity, syncopation and counterpoint.

— andrew gilbert, The Mercury News, "Symphony Silicon Valley takes to tango for season-closing program," 30 May 2017

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

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".

First Known Use of virtuosity

1673

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

VIRTUOSITY Defined for English Language Learners

virtuosity

noun

Definition of virtuosity for English Language Learners

: great ability or skill shown by a musician, performer, etc.

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