virginal
gb/vˈɚd͡ʒɪnəl/ us/vˈɚd͡ʒɪnəl/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
literary
C1
property
1
untouched and unspoiled
completely new, clean, or not used yet
Usage pattern:
virginal [land/forest/snow/area]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with “vaginal” (anatomy).
Synonyms
pristine (Commoner and less literary; emphasizes clean, perfect condition.)
|
untouched (More neutral and direct; focuses on not being altered.)
|
unspoiled (Emphasizes remaining in a natural, undamaged state.)
Antonyms
spoiled (No longer pure or undamaged.)
|
tainted (Affected by something harmful or undesirable.)
|
used (Not new or fresh anymore.)
Collocations
virginal forest
|virginal rainforest
|virginal landscape
|virginal countryside
|virginal snow
|virginal beauty
|virginal waters
|virginal territory
|virginal land
|virginal wilderness
Themes
nature
|environment
|describing_things
Examples
- The hikers reached a stretch of virginal forest that had never been logged.
- By morning the city was covered in virginal snow, unmarked by footprints.
- The island still has pockets of virginal coastline far from any roads.
Learner examples
- We walked through a virginal forest.
- Fresh snow lay virginal on the ground.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
sexually inexperienced; chaste
having had no sexual experience
Usage pattern:
virginal [person/appearance/quality]
Common mistake:
In modern English this can sound old-fashioned or judgmental when used about people; “virgin” is usually more direct.
Synonyms
chaste (Often about choosing not to have sex; can suggest self-control or moral emphasis.)
|
innocent (Broader; may imply naivety rather than sexual inexperience specifically.)
Antonyms
sexually experienced (Opposite in terms of sexual history.)
Collocations
virginal innocence
|virginal purity
|virginal bride
|virginal young woman
|a virginal look
|virginal charm
Themes
relationships
|sex
|describing_people
Examples
- The novel portrays her as virginal and sheltered from the world.
- He tried to maintain a virginal image to appeal to conservative voters.
- The advertisement traded on a fantasy of virginal purity.
Learner examples
- The word “virginal” can mean sexually inexperienced.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
3
small early keyboard instrument
an old type of harpsichord-like keyboard
Usage pattern:
a/the virginal; play the virginal(s)
Synonyms
spinet (Related keyboard instrument; not the same type and usually later.)
|
harpsichord (Broader family term; a virginal is one specific kind.)
Collocations
play the virginal
|a Renaissance virginal
|virginal music
|a double virginal
|a Flemish virginal
|a virginal recital
Themes
music
|instruments
|history
Examples
- The museum displayed a beautifully decorated virginal from the late 1500s.
- She specializes in playing Byrd on the virginal.
- The recording uses a virginal to recreate an Elizabethan sound.
Grammar
Dictionary form
virginal
IPA
GB/vˈɚd͡ʒɪnəl/
US/vˈɚd͡ʒɪnəl/
Syllables & stress
vir - gin - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (vir)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: virginal
Expressions
virginal forest
1/vˈɚd͡ʒɪnəl fˈɔɹɪst/
fixed phrase
formal
forest never logged or developed
a forest that people have not changed
Examples
- Conservationists are working to protect the last remaining virginal forest in the region.
- The documentary shows wildlife thriving in virginal forest far from roads.
- Mining plans sparked protests because they would cut into virginal forest.
virginal snow
1/vˈɚd͡ʒɪnəl snˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
literary
fresh snow with no footprints
fresh snow with no marks on it
Examples
- Their tracks were the first to cross the virginal snow.
- The village looked magical under a layer of virginal snow.
- Deer prints appeared on the virginal snow by dawn.