virtue signalv.
/ˈvəːtʃuː ˌsɪɡnl/, /ˈvəːtjuː ˌsɪɡnl/, U.S. /ˈvərtʃu ˌsɪɡn(ə)l/ depreciative.
intransitive. To express oneself or act in a way thought to be motivated primarily by a wish to exhibit one’s good character, social conscience, political convictions, etc., or to garner recognition and approval. Also transitive: to communicate or exhibit (a personal quality, viewpoint, etc.) in a manner considered self-promoting.Chiefly in contexts of political and social justice issues.
ΚΠ
2015 Spectator 18 Apr. 18/2 [She] was 'virtue signalling' indirectly—indicating that she has the right, approved, liberal media-elite opinions, one of which is despising Ukip and thus, most importantly, advertising that she is not racist.
2018 National (Scotl.) (Nexis) 9 Dec. If the showbiz culture and obsession with media profile sits uncomfortably with efforts to sort the housing and homeless crisis, so too does the idea of a campaign that gives a platform for companies to virtue signal their CEO's benevolence.
2020 @reckno64 17 Sept. in twitter.com (accessed 17 Sept. 2020) I mean it's Twitter. It's what I've come to expect these days that most people are here to virtue signal and whatnot.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2021; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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v.2015