virtue
/ˈvɜːt͡ʃuː/
"virtue" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“virtue” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #7,872 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #7,872
- frequency rank, English
- 6
- letters
- 8
- tracked misspellings
- 3
- confusable pairs
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - (uncountable) The idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human traits known as "the virtues", the e...
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | virtue |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈvɜːt͡ʃuː/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Frequency rank | #7,872 |
| Misspellings tracked | 8 |
| Confusable pairs | 3 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “virtue” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for virtue is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈvɜːt͡ʃuː/. Corpus data places it at rank #7,872 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for virtue, with forms such as "ivrtue", "virrtue", and "virteu". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "virus", "virtues", "virtual", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English vertu, virtue, borrowed from Anglo-Norman vertu, virtu, from Latin virtus (“manliness, bravery, worth, moral excellence”), from vir (“man”). Doublet of vertu. See virile. In this sense, displaced Old English cræft, whence Modern English … The correct English form is virtue, spelled V-I-R-T-U-E.
Definition
- 1(uncountable) The idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human traits known as "the virtues", the enumeration of which vary by the many virtue systems which have developed within different cultures, religions, and historical periods.
- 2Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.
- 3An attribute of a personality (a "personality trait") which predisposes a person to behaviors resulting in human goodness; an admirable quality.
- 4A particular manifestation of moral excellence in a person.
- 5Specifically, each of several qualities held to be particularly important, including the four cardinal virtues, the three theological virtues, or the seven virtues opposed to the seven deadly sins.
- 6An inherently advantageous or excellent quality of something or someone; a favourable point, an advantage.
- 7A creature embodying divine power, specifically one of the orders of heavenly beings, traditionally ranked above angels and archangels, and below seraphim and cherubim.
- 8Specifically, moral conduct in sexual behaviour, especially of women; chastity.
- 9The inherent power of a god, or other supernatural being.
- 10The inherent power or efficacy of something (now only in phrases).
Etymology
From Middle English vertu, virtue, borrowed from Anglo-Norman vertu, virtu, from Latin virtus (“manliness, bravery, worth, moral excellence”), from vir (“man”). Doublet of vertu. See virile. In this sense, displaced Old English cræft, whence Modern English craft.
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: ivrtue,virrtue,virteu,virttue,virute,vitrue,vritue,vvirtue
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of virtue - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "virtue"?
What does "virtue" mean?
What words are commonly confused with "virtue"?
How do you pronounce "virtue"?
What is the origin of the word "virtue"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “virtue”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is V-I-R-T-U-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈvɜːt͡ʃuː/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Don't mix it up with “virus” - see the side-by-side comparison. virtue vs virus
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.