virtual means in effect or essence, rather than in fact or reality; also, imitated, simulated. It carries an Arena rating of 1358, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, virtual ranks #8 of 17,123 for Most Malleable Words, #1,166 of 17,113 for Most Elegant Words, #1,269 of 17,116 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #3,057 of 17,125 for Most Incisive Words.
virtual is pronounced /ˈvɜːt͡ʃʊəl/.
Why “virtual” is a great word
Existing or occurring in effect or essence, though not in actual fact or physical form, often through computer simulation. From Middle English vertual, from Old French vertüal, from Medieval Latin virtuālis ('having power to produce an effect'), from Latin virtūs ('strength, power, virtue'), from vir ('man'). Unlike 'actual,' which stakes a claim in objective, physical reality, or 'tangible,' which demands the evidence of touch, 'virtual' describes a presence that functions without material substrate. It is the intimacy of a face seen through pixels, the weight of a digital coin in a game economy, or the gravity of a promise made to someone whose hand you will never hold—the modern condition of being fully affected by what is not fully there, a testament to the human capacity to imbue the insubstantial with the gravity of truth.
Etymology
The adjective is derived from Middle English vertual, virtual [and other forms], from Old French vertüal, vertüelle (modern French virtuel), or from their etymon Medieval Latin virtuālis (“of or pertaining to potency or power; having power to produce an effect, potent; morally virtuous”), from Latin virtūs (“goodness, virtue; manliness, virility”) (from vir (“adult male, man”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós (“man”), possibly from *weyh₁- (“to chase, hunt, pursue”)) + -tūs (suffix forming collective or abstract nouns)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship), modelled after virtuōsus (“good, virtuous”). Sense 4 (“pertaining to a theoretical infinitesimal velocity in a mechanical system that does not violate the system’s constraints”) is borrowed f
adj
- In effect or essence, rather than in fact or reality; also, imitated, simulated.e.g.“In fact a defeat on the battlefield, Tet was a virtual victory for the North, owing to its effect on public opinion.”
- For practical purposes, though not technically; almost complete, very near.e.g.“The angry peasants were a virtual army as they attacked the castle.”
- Operating using a computer and/or online rather than physically present.e.g.“a virtual assistant a virtual personal trainer”
- Simulated in a computer and/or online.e.g.“virtual machine virtual memory virtual private network”
- Of a class member: capable of being overridden with a different implementation in a subclass.
- Pertaining to a theoretical infinitesimal velocity in a mechanical system that does not violate the system's constraints; also, of other physical quantities: resulting from such a velocity.e.g.“virtual displacement virtual work”
- Pertaining to a theoretical quality of something which would produce an observable effect if counteracting factors such as friction are disregarded; specifically, of a head of water: producing a certain pressure if friction, etc., is disregarded.
- Chiefly in virtual focus: of a focus or point: from which light or other radiation apparently emanates; also, of an image: produced by light that appears to diverge from a point beyond the reflecting or refracting surface.
- Pertaining to particles in temporary existence due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
- Of a quantum state: having an intermediate, short-lived, and unobservable nature.
- Having efficacy or power due to some natural qualities.
- Having efficacy or power due to some natural qualities.; Of a plant or other thing: having strong healing powers; virtuous.
- Having the power of acting without the agency of some material or measurable thing; possessing invisible efficacy.
- Producing, or able to produce, some result; effective, efficacious.
- Synonym of virtuous (“full of virtue; having excellent moral character”).
noun
- Preceded by the: that which is imitated or simulated rather than existing in fact or reality; (countable) an instance of this.
- Preceded by the: that which is imitated or simulated rather than existing in fact or reality; (countable) an instance of this.; That which is simulated in a computer and/or online; virtual reality; (countable) an instance of this; specifically (gambling), a computer simulation of a real-world sport such as horse racing.
- A virtual (adjective sense 3.3) member function of a class.
Words closest in meaning
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