Origin: Latin suffix -al
Virtual has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
A virtual member function of a class.
"The compiler flagged an error because I tried to call the inherited method before declaring it as a virtual member function in the base class."
In plain English: A virtual noun refers to something that exists only as a digital simulation rather than physically.
"The virtual reality headset made him forget he was in his living room."
existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact
"a virtual dependence on charity"
"a virtual revolution"
"virtual reality"
In effect or essence, if not in fact or reality; imitated, simulated.
"The company held a virtual meeting where everyone appeared on their screens as avatars instead of being physically present in the same room."
In plain English: Virtual means something that exists or happens online rather than in real life.
"The virtual reality game made me forget that I was sitting in my living room."
Usage: Use virtual to describe something that has the same force or impact as the real thing without being physically present, such as a virtual meeting held online. Avoid confusing this with "actual," which emphasizes physical existence rather than functional equivalence.
The word "virtual" entered English in the Middle Ages via Old French and Medieval Latin as a term meaning having power or potency. Its roots trace back to the Latin word for manhood and virtue, which originally described someone possessing great strength or moral goodness.