virgin

1 of 2

noun

vir·​gin ˈvər-jən 

1

a

: a person who has not had sexual intercourse

b

: a person who is inexperienced in a usually specified sphere of activity

2

a

: an unmarried woman devoted to religion

b

capitalized : virgo

3

a

: an absolutely chaste young woman

b

: an unmarried girl or woman

4

capitalized : virgin mary

5

: a female animal that has never copulated

virgin

2 of 2

adjective

1

: chaste

2

: fresh, unspoiled

specifically : not altered by human activity

a virgin forest

3

of a vegetable oil : obtained from the first light pressing and without heating

4

a(1)

: being used or worked for the first time

virgin lumber

see also virgin wool

(2)

of a metal : produced directly from ore by primary smelting

b

: initial, first

5

: containing no alcohol

a virgin daiquiri

6

: free of impurity or stain : unsullied

7

: characteristic of or befitting a virgin : modest

Synonyms

Noun

• abecedarian
• apprentice
• babe
• beginner
• colt
• cub
• fledgling
• freshman
• greenhorn
• neophyte
• newbie
• newcomer
• novice
• novitiate
• punk
• recruit
• rook
• rookie
• tenderfoot
• tyro

Adjective

• maiden
• virginal

Examples of virgin in a Sentence

Noun

a virgin in the world of comedy clubs, he's still learning to deal with hecklers

Adjective

encouraged the virgin youths to remain chaste

the state's only remaining virgin forest

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Carell stars as a grown man who is, indeed, still a virgin and is desperate to find someone not only to be physically intimate with, but also to forge a romantic and emotional connection with. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025

The consoling notion of divine impregnation was commonplace in the Hellenistic world, with countless tales of gods foisting demigods on virgins. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Adjective

And so Mary’s virgin status may have been added in Matthew, and later Luke, not to emphasize her purity, but to strengthen the authority of the Christ figure within the Judeo-Christian schema. —Lamorna Ash, The Dial, 6 May 2025

Meanwhile in a skillet, sweat the onion with half the extra virgin olive oil for several minutes over medium heat. —Jennifer Adams, StyleCaster, 5 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French virgine, from Latin virgin-, virgo young woman, virgin

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Phrases Containing virgin

• extra-virgin
• vestal virgin
• virgin birth
• virgin's bower
• virgin territory
• virgin wool

Rhymes for virgin

• sturgeon
• surgeon
• neurosurgeon

Kids Definition

virgin

1 of 2 noun

vir·​gin ˈvər-jən 

: a person who has not had sexual intercourse

virgin

2 of 2 adjective

1

: being a virgin

2

: not soiled

virgin snow

especially : not altered by human activity

virgin soil

3

: being used or worked for the first time

virgin wool

Medical Definition

virgin

1 of 2 noun

vir·​gin ˈvər-jən 

: one who has not had sexual intercourse

virgin

2 of 2 adjective

: not affected or altered by previous use or exposure (as to an antigen) : naive

virgin B cells

Geographical Definition

Virgin

geographical name

Vir·​gin ˈvər-jən 

river 200 miles (322 kilometers) long in southwestern Utah and southeastern Nevada flowing to Lake Mead