Virtue
noun /ˈvɜːtʃuː/ — Moral excellence — the quality of being good, and the specific excellences that constitute goodness.
Definition
Behavior showing high moral standards; a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person; a good or useful quality of a thing.
Beyond the definition
Virtue has classical roots — the Greek aretē and the Latin virtus named excellence of character, the specific excellences that make a person excellent. The virtue tradition holds that character can be cultivated. In contemporary use, virtue has both the general sense (being good) and the specific (courage, prudence, justice, temperance).
Origin & history
From Latin virtus — moral excellence (from vir: man). The excellence of the man — virtus was originally martial courage, the manly excellence. Over centuries it expanded to cover all moral excellence.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She wasn't virtuous because she was trying to be — she was virtuous because she'd built the habits.
The virtue of patience: sometimes you can see its value only when you've watched the impatient fail.
Virtue ethics asks not 'what should I do?' but 'what kind of person should I become?'
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Virtue” when the meaning fits your context: Behavior showing high moral standards; a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person; a good or useful quality of a thing.
Synonyms
goodness, morality, integrity, righteousness, excellence
Antonyms
vice, immorality, wickedness
Related words
- righteousness
- grace
- benevolence
- integrity
Virtue vs morality
Virtue refers to specific, positive character traits or excellence in a person. Morality is the general system of rules or principles that define right and wrong behavior.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Calm Decision Making Together
An experienced team leader reviews a geometric model with colleagues, showing open, composed hands and shared integrity.
This scene captures virtue as a set of moral qualities including composure and openness. By displaying authority that is measured rather than intimidating, the subjects embody moral uprightness and collaborative integrity, showing that useful qualities are those that foster trust.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Virtue" mean?
Virtue is noun meaning: Moral excellence — the quality of being good, and the specific excellences that constitute goodness.. Behavior showing high moral standards; a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person; a good or useful quality of a thing.
Where does the word "Virtue" come from?
From Latin virtus — moral excellence (from vir: man). The excellence of the man — virtus was originally martial courage, the manly excellence. Over centuries it expanded to cover all moral excellence.