virtue
noun
vir·tue ˈvər-(ˌ)chü 
1
a
: conformity to a standard of right : morality
b
: a particular moral excellence
2
: a beneficial quality or power of a thing
3
: manly strength or courage : valor
4
: a commendable quality or trait : merit
5
: a capacity to act : potency
6
: chastity especially in a woman
7
virtues plural : an order of angels see celestial hierarchy
virtueless
ˈvər-(ˌ)chü-ləs
adjective 
Synonyms
- cardinal virtue
- distinction
- excellence
- excellency
- grace
- merit
- value
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He led me across the concrete floor, through a concrete warehouse, and to the concrete screening room, where he began to extol the virtue and beauty of his eleven-mile-long sewage interceptor. 
Frederick Kaufman, Harper's, February 2008 Disinterestedness was the most common term the founders used as a synonym for the classical conception of virtue or self-sacrifice; it better conveyed the threats from interests that virtue seemed increasingly to face in the rapidly commercializing eighteenth century. Gordon S. Wood, Revolutionary Characters, 2006 It was not only his title that made Poor Richard—and by extension [Benjamin] Franklin—an honorary Frenchman. He may well have devoted a great amount of ink to virtue and order, but he checked those concepts at the door of the beau monde; he made it clear that he was not too good for that world … Stacy Schiff, A Great Improvisation, 2005 Nerviness is considered a virtue, a good machine, an energy that builds nations, businesses and dynasties. Handed down from generation to generation, like a caustic strand of DNA, it infects the unhappy, the unfortunate and the unlucky, and turns them into desperate strivers, prepared to do anything to realize their ridiculous ambitions. David Byrne, The New Sins/Los Nuevos Pecados, 2001 Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall … William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, 1605 the virtue of wool as a clothing material is that it can provide insulation from the cold even when wet a lady of honor and virtue See More
Frederick Kaufman, Harper's, February 2008 Disinterestedness was the most common term the founders used as a synonym for the classical conception of virtue or self-sacrifice; it better conveyed the threats from interests that virtue seemed increasingly to face in the rapidly commercializing eighteenth century. Gordon S. Wood, Revolutionary Characters, 2006 It was not only his title that made Poor Richard—and by extension [Benjamin] Franklin—an honorary Frenchman. He may well have devoted a great amount of ink to virtue and order, but he checked those concepts at the door of the beau monde; he made it clear that he was not too good for that world … Stacy Schiff, A Great Improvisation, 2005 Nerviness is considered a virtue, a good machine, an energy that builds nations, businesses and dynasties. Handed down from generation to generation, like a caustic strand of DNA, it infects the unhappy, the unfortunate and the unlucky, and turns them into desperate strivers, prepared to do anything to realize their ridiculous ambitions. David Byrne, The New Sins/Los Nuevos Pecados, 2001 Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall … William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, 1605 the virtue of wool as a clothing material is that it can provide insulation from the cold even when wet a lady of honor and virtue See More Recent Examples on the Web The Senate is 50-50, but Democrats control it by virtue of Vice President Kamala Harris' authority to break ties. Amy Nakamura, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 King Charles, 73, purely by virtue of his health, is likely to revive a more active monarchy, with a smaller number of royals who are expected to provide value to the taxpayers who fund them, officials say. Max Colchester, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Texas debuted at No. 21 by virtue of that narrow home loss to Alabama. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 Ambrose, a former English teacher with airs who advises Dr. Valentine on grammatical manners, seems foregrounded in the script solely by virtue of being played (rather ripely) by Derek Jacobi. Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Sep. 2022 By virtue of a dominant ground game and a special teams score, the Thoroughbreds cruised their way to 40-21 victory over Walton-Verona on Thursday night. Evan Merrill, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 Will Power can clinch his second championship by finishing no worse than third by virtue of his 20-point cushion on Dixon and Josef Newgarden. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Sep. 2022 Some Eleanor Slater Hospital patients, by virtue of their developmental disabilities, are supposed to be closely monitored. Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 No other athlete has left a more substantial mark on the fashion world — and thus our visual vocabulary, our understanding of beauty, our definition of femininity, our sense of identity — simply by virtue of her presence than Serena Williams. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 See More
Amy Nakamura, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 King Charles, 73, purely by virtue of his health, is likely to revive a more active monarchy, with a smaller number of royals who are expected to provide value to the taxpayers who fund them, officials say. Max Colchester, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Texas debuted at No. 21 by virtue of that narrow home loss to Alabama. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 Ambrose, a former English teacher with airs who advises Dr. Valentine on grammatical manners, seems foregrounded in the script solely by virtue of being played (rather ripely) by Derek Jacobi. Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Sep. 2022 By virtue of a dominant ground game and a special teams score, the Thoroughbreds cruised their way to 40-21 victory over Walton-Verona on Thursday night. Evan Merrill, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 Will Power can clinch his second championship by finishing no worse than third by virtue of his 20-point cushion on Dixon and Josef Newgarden. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Sep. 2022 Some Eleanor Slater Hospital patients, by virtue of their developmental disabilities, are supposed to be closely monitored. Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 No other athlete has left a more substantial mark on the fashion world — and thus our visual vocabulary, our understanding of beauty, our definition of femininity, our sense of identity — simply by virtue of her presence than Serena Williams. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English vertu, virtu, from Anglo-French, from Latin virtut-, virtus strength, manliness, virtue, from vir man — more at virile
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing virtue
Kids Definition
virtue
noun
vir·tue ˈvər-chü
1
: morally good behavior or character
We were urged to lead lives of virtue.
2
: a good, moral, or desirable quality
Patience is a virtue.
3
: the good result that comes from something
I learned the virtue of hard work.
by virtue of
preposition
variants or in virtue of
as in by means of
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- by means of
- by dint of
- in
- with
- via
- by
- per
- through