Unvirtuous

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Lacking moral integrity or ethical principles, such qualities manifest through immoral behavior or actions that are contrary to virtue
2. Characterized by actions or behaviors that do not align with ethical standards or moral values, reflecting a deficiency in virtue
3. Describing a state of being where one engages in conduct that is deemed immoral or wicked, thus falling short of virtuous standards

Etymology: "Unvirtuous" is a plain compound: the prefix "un-", meaning "not," attached to "virtuous." The adjective "virtuous" comes from the Latin "virtuosus," built on "virtus," a word that once meant manly courage or worth before it came to mean moral goodness. The negated form arrived in Middle English as "unvertuose" and "unvertuous," so English speakers were combining the two parts for centuries before the modern spelling settled. The word is a straightforward formation, and its meaning follows directly from its parts: where "virtuous" describes conduct that meets moral standards, "unvirtuous" describes conduct that falls short of them. The OED records it in this Middle English form, which shows that the negation was already a natural English building block by then.

Synonyms: immoral, wicked, corrupt, depraved, dishonorable

Antonyms: virtuous, moral, righteous, honest, noble