What does virginal mean?
Virginal has two established uses. As an adjective, it means chaste, innocent, or associated with virginity. The word is literary rather than everyday, and in modern usage it can sound old-fashioned or judgmental, especially when used to describe a man's lack of sexual experience. As a noun, a virginal is a small historical keyboard instrument whose strings are plucked rather than struck; such an instrument belongs to the harpsichord family, and a pair is often called the virginals. The instrument's name is traditionally associated with its use in convent education for girls in the early modern period. This connection makes the word memorable, but its present-day connotations range from a specialized musical term to a moral judgment about chastity. Virginal thus illustrates how one word can preserve both a concrete object from music history and a much older vocabulary of purity and sexual inexperience.
Chaste, innocent, or associated with virginity.
"The novel presents the heroine's virginal optimism in a distinctly nostalgic way."
Literary and now sometimes dismissive, particularly when applied to an adult man.
A small historical keyboard instrument with plucked strings, regarded as a relative of the harpsichord.
"Two players seated at a pair of virginals performed the English consorts."
Specialized historical terminology; a paired instrument is commonly called a pair of virginals.
The plural is standard and commonly refers to a paired set of instruments played by one musician.
"The programme included music for virginals performed on a modern reconstruction."
The virginal pairs a box of plucked strings with an old-fashioned lesson in chastity—an unusually moral name for a keyboard.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does virginal come from?
English borrowed the adjective through Middle French virginal from Latin virginalis, derived from virgo, meaning “maiden” or “virgin.” The musical instrument took its name from the same adjective; its traditional association with girls' convents is commonly given as the explanation. The Latin root also underlies English words such as virgin and virginity.
Related word forms
How virginal is actually used
The adjective is literary and often sounds old-fashioned or judgmental, especially when applied to a man. The noun is specialized early-music terminology, but it remains common in historical performance, museums, and recordings.
Easily confused with virginal
A virgin is a person who has not had sexual intercourse, whereas virginal more often describes chastity, innocence, or a quality associated with virginity.