by virtue of
IdiomsExample Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Though I don’t put much stock in polls, she’s ahead on points by virtue of Bass’ high negative rating alone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
The Treasury secretary, for example, is always going to have more juice than the secretary of agriculture, just by virtue of their respective portfolios.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
She placed fourth, achieving the same total as India's bronze medallist Laishram Devi but losing out on a podium place by virtue of weighing more than her rival.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
His swift appointment as Labour leader, and prime minister by virtue of Labour's huge parliamentary majority, came without him putting forward a clear plan for how he will achieve his aims.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
The great butlers are great by virtue of their ability to inhabit their professional role and inhabit it to the utmost; they will not be shaken out by external events, however surprising, alarming or vexing.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
