virtue signaling

American  

[vur-choo sig-nl-ing] / ˈvɜr tʃu ˌsɪg nl ɪŋ /

noun

Sometimes Disparaging.

1. the sharing of one's point of view on a social or political issue, often on social media, in order to garner praise or acknowledgment of one’s righteousness from others who share that point of view, or to passively rebuke those who do not: Their outraged virtue signaling comes across as contrived.

   The virtue signaling of solidarity with the victims can be a comforting affirmation of community.

   Their outraged virtue signaling comes across as contrived.

---

Usage

What does virtue signaling mean? The term virtue signaling is often used to accuse someone of trying to win praise for showing support for a social cause without actually doing anything meaningful to advance it. This charge is often used against people for being self-righteously “woke” on social media. What are some variants of virtue signaling?(especially British) virtue signallingWhat are some other words related to virtue signaling?cancel culturecall-out cultureslacktivismsocial justice warrior

Etymology

Origin of virtue signaling

Coined by James Bartholomew, British writer, in 2015

Example Sentences

It sounds like mere virtue signaling, but it turns out Canadians mean it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

On the surface, vice signaling appears to be the opposite of virtue signaling, philosopher Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò recently wrote.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2026

Hank counters that he’d followed Maggie home from a party because he caught her cheating on her thesis about performative virtue signaling.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

He does so with an air of entitled smarm, as if Goofus had disguised himself as Gallant and turned to inept virtue signaling to complete the ruse.

From Slate • May 16, 2024

Another concern is that positionality statements serve only as virtue signaling and gloss over deeper issues, such as the reproducibility crisis in science.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 1, 2023