Virgin — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈvər-jən/ vir·gin

Meaning & Definition of Virgin

Virgin (noun)

  1. a person who has not had sexual intercourse
  2. a person who is inexperienced in a usually specified sphere of activity
  3. an unmarried woman devoted to religion

Virgin (adjective)

  1. chaste
  2. fresh, unspoiled; specifically, not altered by human activity
  3. obtained from the first light pressing and without heating

Virgin (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. never having had sexual relations

    "encouraged the virgin youths to remain chaste"

    similar: maiden, virginal
    related: chaste, modest, pure, vestal, innocent, untouched, abstinent, celibate, continent, unmarried, unwed

  2. being in an original and unused or unspoiled state

    "the state's only remaining virgin forest"

    similar: brand-new, fresh, mint, pristine, span-new, virginal
    related: unaltered, unblemished, unbruised, uncontaminated, undamaged, undefiled, unharmed, unhurt, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred, unpolluted, unsoiled, unspoiled, unsullied, untainted, untouched, unworn, new, spick-and-span
    opposite: stale
    near: blemished, broken, bruised, damaged, defaced, defiled, disfigured, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, marred, soiled, sullied, tainted, faded, shopworn, used, well-worn, worn, contaminated, polluted, spoiled, hand-me-down, secondhand

  3. free from any trace of the coarse or indecent

    "his photographs of nudes have such a virgin purity about them that only a prude would find them objectionable"

    similar: chaste, clean, decent, G-rated, immaculate, modest, pure, vestal, virginal
    related: lily-white, spotless, stainless, unblemished, undefiled, unsoiled, unspotted, unstained, unsullied, untainted, untarnished, decorous, proper, seemly, cultivated, refined, tasteful, harmless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive
    opposite: coarse, dirty, filthy, immodest, impure, indecent, obscene, smutty, unchaste, unclean, vulgar
    near: blemished, defiled, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, tainted, tarnished, improper, indecorous, indelicate, ribald, unseemly, crude, tacky, tasteless, unrefined

  4. existing without human habitation or cultivation

    "a vast expanse of virgin territory"

    similar: natural, uncultivated, untamed, wild
    related: native, uninhabited, unpeopled, unsettled, overgrown, spontaneous, untended, waste, undeveloped, desolate, forlorn, howling
    opposite: cultivated, tamed
    near: inhabited, developed, seminatural

  5. coming before all others in time or order

    "the political analyst's virgin effort at a cloak-and-dagger thriller"

    similar: earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, premier
    related: ancient, early, primal, primary, prime, primeval, primitive, primordial, antecedent, preceding, previous
    opposite: final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate
    near: advanced, late, consequent, ensuing, following, subsequent, succeeding, penultimate

Virgin (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who is just starting out in a field of activity

    "a virgin in the world of comedy clubs, he's still learning to deal with hecklers"

    similar: abecedarian, apprentice, babe, beginner, colt, cub, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, novitiate, punk, recruit, rook, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro
    related: boot, amateur, dabbler, dilettante, learner, student, trainee, candidate, entrant, probationer
    opposite: old hand, old-timer, vet, veteran
    near: expert, master, pro, professional

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Virgin

The most common words with a similar meaning to Virgin:

maiden, virginal, brand-new, fresh, mint, pristine, span-new, chaste, clean, decent, G-rated, immaculate, modest, pure, vestal, natural, uncultivated, untamed, wild, earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, original, pioneer, premier, abecedarian, apprentice, babe, beginner, colt, cub, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Virgin

Words with the opposite meaning of Virgin:

stale, coarse, dirty, filthy, immodest, impure, indecent, obscene, smutty, unchaste, unclean, vulgar, cultivated, tamed, final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate, old hand, old-timer, vet, veteran

Related Words for Virgin

innocent, untouched, abstinent, celibate, continent, unmarried, unwed, unaltered, unblemished, unbruised, uncontaminated, undamaged, undefiled, unharmed, unhurt, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred, unpolluted, unsoiled, unspoiled, unsullied, untainted, unworn, new, spick-and-span, lily-white, spotless, stainless, unspotted

Near Antonyms of Virgin

blemished, broken, bruised, damaged, defaced, defiled, disfigured, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, marred, soiled, sullied, tainted, faded, shopworn, used, well-worn, worn, contaminated, polluted, spoiled, hand-me-down, secondhand, spotted, stained, tarnished, improper, indecorous

Origin & Etymology of Virgin

Middle English, from Anglo-French virgine, from Latin virgin-, virgo young woman, virgin

First known use: 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Virgin

virgin birth, Virgin Mary, virgin's bower, virgin wool

Frequently Asked Questions about Virgin

What does "Virgin" mean?

"Virgin" means a person who has not had sexual intercourse. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a person who has not had sexual intercourse. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Virgin"?

Other words for "Virgin" include maiden, virginal, brand-new, fresh, mint, pristine, span-new and chaste. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Virgin" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Virgin"?

There are 123 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Virgin". Common alternatives include maiden, virginal, brand-new, fresh, mint, pristine, span-new, chaste, clean and decent.

What is the opposite of "Virgin"?

Antonyms of "Virgin" include stale, coarse, dirty, filthy, immodest, impure, indecent and obscene. Near antonyms include blemished, broken, bruised and damaged.

How do you use "Virgin" in a sentence?

Examples of "Virgin" in a sentence: "encouraged the virgin youths to remain chaste"; "the state's only remaining virgin forest"; "his photographs of nudes have such a virgin purity about them that only a prude would find them objectionable".

Is "Virgin" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Virgin" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Virgin"?

"Virgin" is pronounced /ˈvər-jən/ and divided into syllables as vir·gin.

What is the origin of the word "Virgin"?

"Virgin" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French virgine, from Latin virgin-, virgo young woman, virgin. First known use: 12th century.