the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
"Her lifelong virtue was shown by her consistent choice to tell the truth even when it would have been easier to lie."
morality with respect to sexual relations
"She believed that true virtue lay in maintaining faithfulness within her marriage."
a particular moral excellence
"She admired his courage, which she considered a great virtue in times of danger."
Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.
"Her life was defined by virtue, as she consistently chose honesty even when it cost her dearly."
In plain English: Virtue is being good and having strong moral qualities that make you do the right thing.
"She was praised for her honesty and kindness, which were considered true virtues in their community."
Usage: Use virtue to describe positive qualities like honesty or courage that are considered morally excellent, rather than using it as a synonym for skill or technical proficiency. This word often appears in phrases such as "for the sake of" when referring to doing something because it is right, not just beneficial.
A surname.
"The Virtues arrived at the party as a close-knit family of four."
The word virtue comes from the Latin virtus, which originally meant manliness or bravery. It entered English through Anglo-Norman and eventually replaced the Old English word cræft.