English Reference
noun

virginia

n.
US /vɝˈdʒɪnjə/ vir·ginia

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    a state in the eastern part of the United States.

    a state of the United States, located on the Atlantic coast; one of the original thirteen colonies.

    Simple

    Richmond is the capital city of Virginia.

    In context

    The historical sites in Virginia attract millions of tourists who are interested in the early colonial history of the United States.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    a common first name for a woman.

    a female given name of Latin origin, meaning 'maiden' or 'virgin'.

    Simple

    Virginia Woolf was a very famous English writer.

    In context

    The name Virginia saw a peak in popularity during the early twentieth century but remains a classic choice for parents today.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced SlangInformal

    a slang word for the vagina.

    a slang term for the vagina, often used as a euphemism or by children and teenagers.

    Simple

    The kids were giggling because they heard someone say the word virginia.

    In context

    In certain social contexts, speakers use 'Virginia' as a phonetic euphemism to avoid the clinical or taboo nature of the anatomical term.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a common euphemism used to avoid saying 'vagina' directly, especially in mixed company or around children.


From Latin Virginia, feminine form of Virginius or Verginius, a Roman family name, possibly identical with Vergilius. The state/colony was named for Elizabeth I as the Virgin Queen, equivalent to virgin + -ia.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin Virginia
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated