virtual reality

American  

[vur-choo-uhl ree-al-i-tee] / ˈvɜr tʃu əl riˈæl ɪ ti /

noun

Digital Technology.

1. a realistic and immersive computer simulation of a three-dimensional environment, created using interactive software and hardware, and experienced or controlled by movement of the body. VR

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virtual reality British  

noun

1.  VR.  a computer-generated environment that, to the person experiencing it, closely resembles reality See also virtual

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virtual reality Scientific  

1. A computer simulation of a real or imaginary world or scenario, in which a user may interact with simulated objects or living things in real time. More sophisticated virtual reality systems place sensors on the user's body to sense movements that are then interpreted by the system as movements in the simulated world; binocular goggles are sometimes used to simulate the appearance of objects in three dimensions.

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virtual reality Cultural  

1. The creation of images and tactile sensations by means of a computer, producing the illusion of reality. Images are often projected onto special goggles to strengthen the illusion. (See cyberspace.)

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Etymology

Origin of virtual reality

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

“Neuromancer,” one of the defining cyberpunk novels, was published in 1988; that book imagines an interconnected, virtual reality world you can traverse by “jacking in.”

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026

When Zuckerberg became convinced that a virtual reality “metaverse” was Facebook’s future, it was Bosworth he put in charge of the initiative, which was widely seen as an expensive disaster.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Meanwhile, the Queen and first lady will attend a cross-cultural educational event with American students where virtual reality headsets and AI-enabled glasses will teach participants about the histories of both the US and the UK.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

It was just a couple of years ago that major corporations were looking to virtual reality as the future of business, whether for internal meetings or external customer experiences.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

I’m past the shields that protect the surface level of Warcross and have dived into the sprawling, encrypted, anonymous underground world of virtual reality that has sprung up right under the Warcross platform.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu