virginity
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /vɜːdʒˈɪnɪti/
US
- /vərˈdʒɪnɪti/
Description
- State of not having had sexual intercourse
- sexual inexperience
- first-time sexual status.
Virginity usually refers to the state of not having had sexual intercourse. At first glance, the idea may seem simple, but in real life it is shaped by culture, religion, family values, and personal beliefs. In many societies, it has been linked to ideas about honor, morality, and readiness for marriage. At the same time, people do not always agree on what counts: some focus only on intercourse, while others include other kinds of sexual activity. Because of this, the word can carry a lot of emotion and social pressure, especially for young people. For many, it is a private and personal matter rather than a clear physical fact.
The word "virginity" has a more complex meaning than simply "not having had sex." In its most common use, it refers to the state of not having had sexual intercourse. But the word also carries a long social and cultural history. For centuries, it has been tied to ideas about purity, honor, morality, social status, and marriage, especially in the case of women. In many places, a woman's virginity was treated as a sign of good character and marriage value, and this affected both her own future and her family's reputation. These beliefs helped create strong social rules around sexual behavior, and their influence can still be seen today.
Today, many people question or redefine the concept. One reason is that there is no single physical sign that can reliably prove whether a person has had sex. For example, people sometimes wrongly connect virginity with the hymen, but the hymen is not a dependable measure of sexual experience. It can change for many reasons, including normal physical activity, and its shape varies naturally from person to person.
Definitions also vary a lot. Some people define it only in terms of intercourse or penetration, while others include oral sex or other sexual acts. Because of these differences, some people reject the idea completely and see it as a social label that can create pressure, shame, or unfair judgment.
The word can also appear in a broader or metaphorical sense to describe something untouched or unused, such as "virgin land," though that use is separate from the main meaning about sexual experience. When the word refers to people, it should be discussed with care, because it often touches on private choices, identity, relationships, and cultural expectations. In the end, virginity is not just a biological idea; it is also a personal and social one, and its meaning depends greatly on context.
Examples
- 1
Privacy
She wanted to keep her virginity private.
- 2
Personal questions
Questions about his virginity made him uncomfortable.
- 3
First sex
He said he lost his virginity when he was in college.
Phrase
lose your virginity
have sex for the first time
- 4
Social judgment
The film explores how society judges men and women differently when it comes to virginity.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- virginitynoun