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.

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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

Rock jokes about the hypocrisy of corporate virtue signaling, spending an extended run cracking on Lululemon for their $100 yoga pants.

From Salon

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

From Salon

Vice signaling, then, is typically a version of virtue signaling rather than an alternative to it.

From Salon

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