virtuosity
noun
vir·tu·os·i·ty
ˌvər-chü-ˈä-sə-tē 
plural virtuosities
1
: great technical skill (as in the practice of a fine art)
2
: a taste for or interest in virtu
Did you know?
Virtuosity is used particularly to describe musicians, but also often for writers, actors, dancers, and athletes. A virtuoso is a highly skilled performer, and a virtuoso performance is one that astonishes the audience by its feats. In ancient Greece the cities would hold male competitions in acrobatics, conjuring, public reciting, blowing the trumpet, and acting out scenes from Homer's epics, the winners of which would have been praised as virtuous, or "full of manly virtues".
Examples of virtuosity in a Sentence
Her virtuosity on the piano is amazing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Most of the film plays out in something close to real time, and the directors, loath to hurry scenes along, slow the action down with a technical virtuosity that sometimes tilts into self-admiration.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
Snook’s virtuosity is such that all three, whether live or recorded or both at once, are convincing and compelling, at least in the first of the play’s two hours.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Belushi's time on Saturday Night Live was fraught and fruitful in equal measure, the brilliant comedian hurling himself into the backstage drama and onstage virtuosity with similarly bottomless capacity.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025
Jordan brings them both to distinctive life with his powerful presence and a virtuosity that wears its effort lightly.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for virtuosity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
Snook’s virtuosity is such that all three, whether live or recorded or both at once, are convincing and compelling, at least in the first of the play’s two hours.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Belushi's time on Saturday Night Live was fraught and fruitful in equal measure, the brilliant comedian hurling himself into the backstage drama and onstage virtuosity with similarly bottomless capacity.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025
Jordan brings them both to distinctive life with his powerful presence and a virtuosity that wears its effort lightly.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for virtuosity
Cite this Entry
“Virtuosity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virtuosity. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
virtuosity
noun
vir·tu·os·i·ty
ˌvər-chə-ˈwäs-ət-ē
plural virtuosities
: great performing ability in the fine arts
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share