Virtue
n.thoughtful, kindformal
Meaning 1
A morally good quality expressed through conduct.
Reach for it when naming a character strength without claiming that one act proves the whole person
Patience became a practical virtue during the delicate repair.
Choose between these
4- warm
when broad moral character is the intended praise
not when Goodness is diffuse and does not identify a particular virtue.
- professional
when consistent honesty and principles are central
not when Integrity is one virtue, not a substitute for kindness, courage, or patience.
- formal
when outstanding moral or practical quality is meant
not when Excellence can be technical and says nothing about moral conduct.
- formal
when a quality deserves approval or reward
not when Merit evaluates worth and need not be moral.
Meaning 2
A useful advantage or beneficial quality.
Reach for it when explaining what makes a method, object, or choice especially worthwhile
The chief virtue of the design is that every part can be repaired locally.
Choose between these
4- everyday
when a positive result rather than an inherent quality matters
not when Benefit names the gain, not the feature that produces it.
- everyday
when a positive feature supports performance
not when A strength can be powerful without being beneficial in every context.
- professional
when favorable practical comparison is the whole point
not when Advantage can arise unfairly and carries no suggestion of inherent goodness.
- formal
when the option deserves consideration on that ground
not when Merit is evaluative and less concrete than naming the exact practical virtue.
Said against
4- vice
- corruption
- drawback
- flaw
It naturally appears in
3- moral virtue
Humility is a moral virtue only when it does not erase rightful confidence.
- practice virtue
The school asks pupils to practice virtue through repair, apology, and fair sharing.
- chief virtue
The chief virtue of the route is its gentle, step-free gradient.
Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English noun sense: a morally good quality opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Wiktionary, English noun sense: an advantageous or beneficial quality opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.