Word
virtuous
Phoneticsvir·tu·ous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈvɝtʃuəs/
UK/vˈɜːtʃuːəs/
Formal
Definition
adj. having or showing very high moral standards. You use this to describe someone who always tries to do the right thing and avoid bad behavior.
adj. conforming to high moral standards; exhibiting righteousness or excellence in character. Often used to describe individuals who adhere strictly to ethical principles.
Examples
“She led a virtuous life dedicated to helping others.”
“The politician tried to maintain a virtuous image to win the trust of the conservative voters.”
“In classical philosophy, a virtuous person is one who finds the perfect balance between extremes, acting with courage and temperance in every situation.”
Examples
simple
“She led a virtuous life dedicated to helping others.”
contextual
“The politician tried to maintain a virtuous image to win the trust of the conservative voters.”
complex
“In classical philosophy, a virtuous person is one who finds the perfect balance between extremes, acting with courage and temperance in every situation.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“It might seem as though a virtuous person would not feel shame; she would simply never do or say anything shameful.” “It may be a virtuous cycle: More known words help you learn more words from harder sources, which in turn grows your vocabulary further.” “Buying unpackaged food tends to make you buy more local, seasonal food, which also reduces your food miles, thereby creating a virtuous circle.” “Indeed, it could be argued that in their independence of material possessions and their emphasis on peacefulness and honesty, hippies lead considerably more virtuous lives than the great majority of their fellow citizens.” Etymology
From Middle English vertuous, borrowed from Anglo-Norman vertuous, vertous, ultimately from Late Latin virtuōsus, from Latin virtūs. By surface analysis, virtue + -ous. Doublet of virtuoso and piecewise doublet of virtùous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. virtuous circle
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/virtuous