virtual

adjective

vir·​tu·​al ˈvər-chə-wəl 

-chəl;

ˈvərch-wəl

1

: being such in essence or effect though not formally recognized or admitted

a virtual dictator

2

: being on or simulated on a computer or computer network

print or virtual books

a virtual keyboard

: such as

a

: occurring or existing primarily online

virtual shopping

b

: of, relating to, or existing within a virtual reality

a virtual tour

3

: of, relating to, or using virtual memory

4

: of, relating to, or being a hypothetical particle whose existence is inferred from indirect evidence

virtual photons

compare real sense 3

Examples of virtual in a Sentence

The website provides a virtual tour of the stadium.

Recent Examples on the Web

Second Life participants turned virtual entrepreneurship into physical livelihoods, with virtual real estate developers, fashion designers, and e-commerce pioneers earning real-world incomes. —Jason Snyder, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are virtual locks for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 Dec. 2024

During the pandemic, Williams shifted to virtual performances, including an NPR Tiny Desk concert filmed in Nashville, and released her surprise sophomore album, Flowers for Vases/Descansos, in 2021. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 28 Dec. 2024

However, the pandemic disrupted those plans, and Williams was forced to stage a series of virtual performances — like NPR’s Tiny Desk from Nashville — during the album’s promotional push. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, efficacious, potential, from Medieval Latin virtualis, from Latin virtus strength, virtue

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing virtual

• virtual colonoscopy
• virtual image
• virtual memory
• virtual private network
• virtual reality

Kids Definition

virtual

adjective

vir·​tu·​al ˈvərch-(ə-)wəl 

ˈvər-chəl

: being in effect but not in fact or name

a virtual dictator

: being on or simulated on a computer or computer network

a virtual classroom

virtually

-ē

adverb