virile

[ vir-uhlor, especially British, -ahyl ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a man; masculine; manly:

   virile strength.

2. having or exhibiting masculine energy, forcefulness, or strength in a marked degree.

   Synonyms: vigorous

3. characterized by a vigorous, masculine spirit:

   a virile literary style.

4. of, relating to, or capable of procreation.

virile

/ ˈvɪraɪl; vɪˈrɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an adult male
2. (of a male) possessing high sexual drive and capacity for sexual intercourse
3. of or capable of copulation or procreation
4. strong, forceful, or vigorous

Derived Forms

• virility, noun

Other Words From

• non·virile adjective
• sub·virile adjective
• ultra·virile adjective
• un·virile adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of virile¹

1480–90; from Latin virīlis “manly,” equivalent to vir “man” (akin to Old English wer “man”; werewolf ) + -īlis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of virile¹

C15: from Latin virīlis manly, from vir a man; related to Old English wer man and probably to Latin vis strength

Synonym Study

See male.

Example Sentences

A living, doddering Lee was far less useful to the pitchfork crowd than a hanged, virile Lee would have been.

From The Daily Beast

Did he believe this or was it the story—virile and unselfpitying, as suited the son of a miner—he chose to tell himself?

From The Daily Beast

To travel with her, she tapped Charles Powell, also tall and virile but only 47, “a smoothy” she called him.

From The Daily Beast

That so timid, so gentle a personality should conceal so virile a passion almost seemed to require explanation.

From Project Gutenberg

Frederick Bastien strongly resembled his mother, though his beauty was of a more pronounced and virile type.

From Project Gutenberg

Both authors seem to have been themselves inspired by their virile theme to give to it their best work.

From Project Gutenberg

The reader must not feel surprised at the virile heroism Carmela displayed under the present circumstances.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, as her fingers brushed the small white back, there surged up in her a sudden virile tenderness and comprehension.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• macho
• manful
• manly
• masculine