# virtual

/ˈvɝtʃuəɫ/ (US) · /vˈɜːtʃuːəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/virtual
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. computer-simulated

adjective · CEFR B1

created by a computer or existing online rather than in the physical world.

For teachers: existing or occurring on a computer or the internet; simulated by software to appear real or physical.

- The museum offers a virtual tour for people who cannot visit in person.
- The engineering team conducted a virtual simulation of the bridge's stress points before any physical construction began.

Usage: Often used before nouns like 'tour', 'meeting', or 'assistant'.

### 2. almost or effectively

adjective · CEFR B2

being something in effect or result, even if it is not officially that thing.

For teachers: being such in essence or effect though not formally recognized or admitted as such.

- The team's defeat was a virtual certainty after their best player got injured.
- By the end of the third quarter, the incumbent's victory was a virtual certainty, despite the remaining uncounted ballots.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'a virtual certainty' or 'a virtual monopoly'.

### 3. programming

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

a part of a computer program that can be changed or replaced by another part later.

For teachers: relating to a class member function that can be overridden in a derived class to support polymorphism.

- The programmer defined a virtual function to allow different types of shapes to be drawn.
- The base class declares the destructor as virtual to ensure that the derived class's resources are correctly deallocated.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized term in object-oriented programming; general learners will rarely encounter it outside of coding contexts.

### 4. physics

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing something in science that exists for a very short time or appears to be in a place where it is not.

For teachers: relating to particles or states that exist briefly due to the uncertainty principle, or images formed where light rays appear to diverge.

- A mirror creates a virtual image that looks like it is behind the glass.
- In quantum field theory, virtual particles mediate the forces between real particles during an interaction.

## Examples

- We have a virtual meeting today.
- The museum offers a virtual tour on its website for people who cannot visit in person.
- The prime minister became the virtual ruler of the country, holding all the power in effect, though not officially in title.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.