virgin
virgin — noun
1. a man or woman who has not yet slept with anyone
a man or woman who has not yet slept with anyone
Ari respected Mira's choice to remain a virgin and never pressured her during their relationship.
remain a virgin — stay in that state by choice
Sana told her partner that she was a virgin and wanted to wait a little longer.
told [someone] + that-clause — disclosing virginity status
Feng explained to his friends that he saw no shame in being a virgin at twenty-two.
no shame in being a virgin — neutral/positive framing
Kemi told her cousin she was still a virgin and happy with that choice.
she was a virgin — direct self-description of status
- remain a virgin
- lose one's virginity
- still a virgin
- celibate
a person who chooses not to have sex, often for religious or personal reasons; more about ongoing choice than first-time status
- chaste person
a more formal or old-fashioned term, often with a moral or religious tone
Usage Note
Also used in adjective form (see adjective sense 4: SEXUALLY INEXPERIENCED). Many people prefer phrases like 'not sexually active' or 'has not had sex' in casual conversation, as 'virgin' can carry social judgments.
Common Mistakes
2. an individual doing an activity for the first time, without any background knowl
an individual doing an activity for the first time, without any background knowledge or skill in it
When Eshe joined the design firm she was a marketing virgin and had to learn everything from scratch.
a [field] virgin — newcomer to that field
Diego is a skiing virgin — he has never even seen snow before.
The beginner workshop is meant for computer virgins who have never touched a keyboard.
computer virgin — no experience with computers
Noa felt nervous before her first shift because she was a complete cooking virgin.
complete [activity] virgin — emphasises zero experience
- a [activity] virgin
- complete virgin
- total virgin
Grammar Patterns
a [activity] virgin
virgin at [activity]
Usage Note
Almost always followed by a noun that names the activity (a movie virgin, a social-media virgin). The tone is light and conversational — avoid in formal writing.
Common Mistakes
virgin — adjective
1. describes land, forest, or natural areas that have never been changed, cut down,
describes land, forest, or natural areas that have never been changed, cut down, or built on by people
The expedition travelled deep into one of the last virgin forests in Southeast Asia.
virgin forest — natural forest never cut by humans
Hikers walked across a virgin landscape where no roads had ever been built.
Conservationists are fighting to protect virgin wilderness from mining and logging companies.
virgin wilderness — untouched natural land
Farmers discovered a patch of virgin soil that had never been planted with crops.
virgin soil — land never farmed before
- virgin forest
- virgin land
- virgin soil
- virgin territory
- virgin wilderness
- cultivated
land that has been prepared for growing crops
- developed
land that has been built on or changed by people
Usage Note
The Virgin River (a river flowing through Utah and Nevada into Lake Mead) takes its name from this idea of untouched land, though it is a fixed proper noun today.
Common Mistakes
2. relates to cooking oils — most often olive oil — that come from pressing fresh f
relates to cooking oils — most often olive oil — that come from pressing fresh fruit without added heat or chemical steps
Chef Elena drizzled extra virgin olive oil over the fresh salad before serving it.
extra virgin olive oil — highest grade of virgin olive oil
At the market, Hannah chose virgin coconut oil over the refined version for her baking.
choosing virgin coconut oil — consumer decision contrasting virgin vs refined
Sven drizzled extra virgin olive oil over the roasted vegetables just before serving them.
drizzled extra virgin olive oil over — typical kitchen use of extra virgin oil
Esteban checked the label to make sure the bottle said 'extra virgin' and not just 'pure olive oil.'
checked the label — distinguishing extra virgin from regular olive oil
- virgin olive oil
- virgin coconut oil
- extra virgin
- extra virgin
the highest grade of virgin olive oil, from the first cold pressing
- cold-pressed
describes oil made without heat; similar process but not limited to the first pressing
- refined
oil treated with heat or chemicals after pressing to remove flavours and impurities
Usage Note
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the highest grade, made from the first cold pressing. Simply 'virgin olive oil' is a lower grade but still produced without heat or chemicals.
Common Mistakes
3. describes something, especially something white, that is completely pure, clean,
describes something, especially something white, that is completely pure, clean, and not yet marked or spoiled
The bride wore a dress made of virgin white silk that shimmered in the sunlight.
virgin white — pure, unmarked white
After the snowstorm the garden lay under a blanket of virgin white snow.
The sculptor chose virgin white marble to create the statue of the goddess.
virgin white marble — pure white stone with no markings
A fresh sheet of virgin paper lay on the desk waiting for the first stroke of ink.
virgin paper — unused, perfectly clean sheet
- virgin white
- virgin snow
- virgin marble
- pure white
everyday term for white that has no other colour mixed in
- pristine
in perfect, original condition; can apply to colours but also to objects and environments
Usage Note
This sense is mostly found in literature, poetry, and descriptive writing. In everyday speech, 'pure white' or 'snowy white' are more common.
4. describes a person who has never had sex — for example, someone who is waiting f
describes a person who has never had sex — for example, someone who is waiting for a particular time or relationship before becoming sexually active
The documentary followed three virgin teenagers from different countries as they prepared for their weddings.
virgin teenagers — adjective describing sexually inexperienced young people
Saira's grandmother was a virgin bride at sixteen, but times have changed.
virgin bride — traditional set phrase
At the campus health fair, Ishaan told a counsellor he was still a virgin and asked for advice about dating.
still a virgin — natural noun use describing personal disclosure of status
Maeve chose to stay a virgin throughout college and focused on her studies instead.
stay a virgin — personal life choice
- virgin bride
- virgin teenager
- virgin student
- virgin birth
- sexually active
having had sex; the neutral opposite of 'virgin'
Usage Note
Conceptually overlaps with noun sense 1 (NOT HAD SEX). The adjective form is used before a noun (a virgin bride, virgin teenagers), while the noun form stands alone (he is a virgin). Unlike noun sense 1, the adjective can also describe groups of people (virgin college students).
Common Mistakes
Word family
- virginitynounB2
- virginaladjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All four words describe someone new to an activity, but they differ in how 'new' the person is. A virgin (in this sense) has never tried the activity at all — zero experience. A beginner has started but is still at an early stage. A novice has some basic training or experience but is not yet skilled. A rookie is a first-year participant, most common in sports and professional contexts. For example: 'Feng is a yoga virgin who has never set foot in a studio.' 'Élise is a beginner who has been to three classes.' 'The team signed a rookie pitcher this season.' 'Zayd is a novice photographer who knows the basics but needs more practice.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- virgin territory
- virgin soil
Prepositions
- virgin at [activity]
- virgin in [field]
Etymology
From Latin 'virgo' (genitive 'virginis'), meaning a young woman or maiden. The word entered English through Old French 'virgine' in the 13th century, originally referring to the Virgin Mary and later to any unmarried or sexually inexperienced person. The broader meanings — untouched land, pure oil, unspoiled appearance — developed over the following centuries through metaphor: something that has been 'left alone' in its original state.