/ ˈvɜːtʃuəl; NAmE ˈvɜːrtʃ-/ adjective [ only before noun ]
1.
almost or very nearly the thing described, so that any slight difference is not important :
The country was sliding into a state of virtual civil war.
The company has a virtual monopoly in this area of trade.
He married a virtual stranger.
2.
made to appear to exist by the use of computer software, for example on the Internet :
New technology has enabled development of an online 'virtual library'.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (also in the sense possessing certain virtues ): from medieval Latin virtualis , from Latin virtus virtue, suggested by late Latin virtuosus .