Definition

1. Noun:
   • A particular moral excellence: A specific quality or trait that is considered morally good or desirable.
   • Morality with respect to sexual relations: Chastity, especially in a woman, as traditionally valued.
   • Any admirable quality or attribute: A good or useful feature of something or someone.
   • The quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong: General moral righteousness in behavior and character.

Examples of Usage

• As a moral excellence:
  • Honesty is a virtue that is highly valued in many cultures.
  • The story celebrated the virtues of courage and loyalty.
• Referring to chastity:
  • In the historical novel, the heroine's virtue was constantly under threat.
• As an admirable quality:
  • One of the virtues of this material is its durability.
• As general righteousness:
  • He was a man of great personal virtue.

Advanced Usage

• "By virtue of" (also "in virtue of"): Because of; on account of; by reason of.
  • She was granted citizenship by virtue of her marriage.
  • The plan succeeded in virtue of careful preparation.
• "To make a virtue of necessity": To make the best of a difficult or unsatisfactory situation by using it to demonstrate a good quality like patience or resilience.
  • With their car broken down, they made a virtue of necessity and enjoyed a long walk home.

Variants and Related Words

• Virtuous (adjective): Having or showing high moral standards.
  • She led a virtuous life dedicated to helping others.
• Virtuously (adverb): In a virtuous manner.
  • He acted virtuously in returning the lost wallet.

Synonyms

• Goodness: The quality of being morally good.
• Rectitude: Morally correct behavior or thinking.
• Probity: The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
• Chastity: The state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual intercourse (for this specific meaning of 'virtue').

Antonyms

• Vice: Immoral or wicked behavior.
• Sin: An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.
• Depravity: Moral corruption; wickedness.

Idioms and Phrases

• "Patience is a virtue": A common saying meaning that the ability to wait calmly without complaining is a good and valuable character trait.
• "A woman of easy virtue" (archaic/dated): A euphemism for a woman who is promiscuous or considered sexually immoral. (Note: This phrase is now considered offensive and sexist.)

Noun

1. a particular moral excellence
2. morality with respect to sexual relations
3. any admirable quality or attribute
   • work of great merit
4. the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong