virginal

1 of 2

adjective

vir·​gin·​al ˈvər-jə-nᵊl How to pronounce virginal (audio)
ˈvərj-nəl
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a virgin or virginity
especially : pure, chaste
a virginal young girl
2
: pristine, unsullied
a virginal snowfall
virginally adverb

virginal

2 of 2

noun

: a small rectangular spinet having no legs and only one wire to a note and popular in the 16th and 17th centuries
often used in plural

called also pair of virginals

virginalist
ˈvər-jə-nᵊl-ist How to pronounce virginal (audio)
ˈvərj-nə-list
noun

Examples of virginal in a Sentence

Adjective The land is still in its virginal state. one of the state's few remaining tracts of virginal prairie
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The film treats Ryder’s Beth as the evil hag witch who the virginal hard worker Nina has to beat to achieve her dreams, and Ryder plays that role with relish and gusto. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024 That’s because our immune systems are no longer so virginal to the SARS-CoV-2, given previous exposure to its spike proteins via vaccination or natural infection. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
Noun
Many of the clinics that provide hymenoplasty also offer virginity testing, an examination of the genitalia that claims to determine the virginal (or otherwise) status of a woman. Neda Taghinejadi, Wired, 13 Feb. 2022 See all Example Sentences for virginal 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from Latin virginalis of a virgin, from virgin-, virgo

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of virginal was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near virginal

Cite this Entry

“Virginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virginal. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

virginal

1 of 2 adjective
vir·​gin·​al ˈvər-jən-ᵊl How to pronounce virginal (audio)
ˈvərj-nəl
: of, relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for a virgin
especially : chaste sense 1
virginally
adverb

virginal

2 of 2 noun
: a musical instrument resembling a small piano with no legs

Medical Definition

virginal

adjective
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a virgin or virginity

More from Merriam-Webster on virginal

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