VIRILITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does virility mean? 

• VIRILITY (noun)
  The noun VIRILITY has 2 senses:

1. the masculine property of being capable of copulation and procreation

2. the trait of being manly; having the characteristics of an adult male

  Familiarity information: VIRILITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VIRILITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The masculine property of being capable of copulation and procreation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("virility" is a kind of...):

maleness; masculinity (the properties characteristic of the male sex)

Derivation:

virile ((of a male) capable of copulation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The trait of being manly; having the characteristics of an adult male

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

manfulness; manliness; virility

Hypernyms ("virility" is a kind of...):

masculinity (the trait of behaving in ways considered typical for men)

Derivation:

virile (characteristic of a man)

 Context examples 

His tremendous virility and mental strength wall him apart.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

At the same time a wave of intense virility seemed to surge out from him and impinge upon her.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Standing in the doorway and glancing round me, I had a general impression of extraordinary comfort and elegance combined with an atmosphere of masculine virility.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A carnivorous animal living on a straight meat diet, he was in full flower, at the high tide of his life, overspilling with vigor and virility.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

He was in perfect condition, without an ounce of superfluous flesh, and the one hundred and fifty pounds that he weighed were so many pounds of grit and virility.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

And his fresh mind, untaxed for twenty years and impelled by maturity of desire, gripped hold of what he read with a virility unusual to the student mind.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The jaw, the chin, the brow rising to a goodly height and swelling heavily above the eyes,—these, while strong in themselves, unusually strong, seemed to speak an immense vigour or virility of spirit that lay behind and beyond and out of sight.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)