virile

[vir-uhl, -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

Other Word Forms

• nonvirile adjective
• subvirile adjective
• ultravirile adjective
• unvirile adjective
• virility noun

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

It inspired his themes—war, fear, mutilation, endurance, courage, comradeship and death—and his laconic and stoical, virile and aggressive heroes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The performances of the symphonies, on Thursday and Saturday, came across considerably more persuasively than the concerto did on Wednesday, though Mr. Zukerman, now age 77, was in fine, virile form.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a YouTube video, a priest is championing a form of virile, unapologetic masculinity.

Read more on BBC

In fact, I think those gendered stereotypes — Americans as virile and manly; Europeans as emasculated or effeminate — go back much further than that, and were inhaled by nearly all American men of Trump’s generation.

Read more on Salon

Judging by the sporting photos on his campaign website, Kennedy would like to be seen as the virile, athletic and spry choice for the White House.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• macho 
• manful 
• manly 
• masculine