Virtually Means Almost, and Virtual Means Not Quite Real
Virtual means existing in effect but not in fact. Computing took the word, and the adverb drifted to mean nearly.
Virtual means existing in effect though not in physical fact. Computing borrowed it precisely — virtual memory behaves like memory the machine does not physically have — and the adverb went its own way: *virtually* now means almost. The two senses sit oddly together, since virtually certain means not quite certain.
- Existing in effect, not in fact. *A virtual monopoly.*
- Simulated by computer. *Virtual reality.*
- Virtually — almost. *Virtually finished.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | virtual | A virtual meeting. |
| Adverb | virtually | Virtually identical. |
| Compound | virtual reality | A virtual reality headset. |
| Related | virtue | A cardinal virtue. |
| Related | virtuoso | A piano virtuoso. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The company has a virtual monopoly.In effect, if not formally.
- The building is virtually complete.Almost.
- Virtual machines run on shared hardware.Computing.
Virtual in computing
- Virtual memory — disk space used as if it were memory
- Virtual machine — a simulated computer running inside a real one
- Virtual reality — an immersive simulated environment
- Augmented reality — digital elements added to the real view
- Virtualisation — running many virtual systems on one physical machine
From Medieval Latin *virtualis*, from Latin *virtus*, strength or capacity — the same root as *virtue*. The original sense was having the power to produce an effect.
Virtual or augmented reality?
Virtual reality replaces what you see. Augmented reality adds digital elements on top of the real world.
Does *virtually* mean actually?
No, the opposite. It means almost but not quite, which is why virtually all is weaker than all.