noun
virtue
VURT-shoo
noun
1
Moral goodness or excellence of character.
"The story praised patience and honesty as great virtues."
2
A particular good quality or admirable trait.
"Patience is not one of his virtues."
3
A beneficial or advantageous quality of something.
"One virtue of the new design is how easy it is to clean."
How to Use Virtue
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGood moral character in general, or one specific admirable trait.
Common pairings
by virtue of
a woman of virtue
the virtue of patience
Word Forms
virtues plural, Virtues plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “virtue”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The story praised patience and honesty as great _____.
Etymology
From Latin virtus, meaning "manliness, worth, or moral excellence," from vir, "man."