diff --git a/crates/uv-resolver/src/lock.rs b/crates/uv-resolver/src/lock.rs
index b3b014ba3..0da9f4a7a 100644
--- a/crates/uv-resolver/src/lock.rs
+++ b/crates/uv-resolver/src/lock.rs
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ impl Lock {
         }
 
         // Add any dependency groups that are exclusive to the workspace root (e.g., dev
-        // dependencies in virtual workspaces).
+        // dependencies in (legacy) non-project workspace roots).
         for group in dev {
             for dependency in project.group(group) {
                 if dependency.marker.evaluate(marker_env, &[]) {
diff --git a/crates/uv-workspace/src/workspace.rs b/crates/uv-workspace/src/workspace.rs
index 1fef22d8d..bb0987dac 100644
--- a/crates/uv-workspace/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/crates/uv-workspace/src/workspace.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ impl Workspace {
     /// Find the workspace containing the given path.
     ///
     /// Unlike the [`ProjectWorkspace`] discovery, this does not require a current project. It also
-    /// always uses absolute path, i.e. this method only supports discovering the main workspace.
+    /// always uses absolute path, i.e., this method only supports discovering the main workspace.
     ///
     /// Steps of workspace discovery: Start by looking at the closest `pyproject.toml`:
     /// * If it's an explicit workspace root: Collect workspace from this root, we're done.
@@ -83,6 +83,16 @@ impl Workspace {
     /// * Otherwise, try to find an explicit workspace root above:
     ///   * If an explicit workspace root exists: Collect workspace from this root, we're done.
     ///   * If there is no explicit workspace: We have a single project workspace, we're done.
+    ///
+    /// Note that there are two kinds of workspace roots: projects, and (legacy) non-project roots.
+    /// The non-project roots lack a `[project]` table, and so are not themselves projects, as in:
+    /// ```toml
+    /// [tool.uv.workspace]
+    /// members = ["packages/*"]
+    ///
+    /// [tool.uv]
+    /// dev-dependencies = ["ruff"]
+    /// ```
     pub async fn discover(
         path: &Path,
         options: &DiscoveryOptions<'_>,
@@ -157,7 +167,7 @@ impl Workspace {
 
         check_nested_workspaces(&workspace_root, options);
 
-        // Unlike in `ProjectWorkspace` discovery, we might be in a virtual workspace root without
+        // Unlike in `ProjectWorkspace` discovery, we might be in a legacy non-project root without
         // being in any specific project.
         let current_project = pyproject_toml
             .project
@@ -232,19 +242,14 @@ impl Workspace {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Returns `true` if the workspace has a virtual root.
-    pub fn is_virtual(&self) -> bool {
+    /// Returns `true` if the workspace has a (legacy) non-project root.
+    pub fn is_non_project(&self) -> bool {
         !self
             .packages
             .values()
             .any(|member| *member.root() == self.install_path)
     }
 
-    /// Returns `true` if the workspace consists solely of a virtual root.
-    pub fn only_virtual(&self) -> bool {
-        self.packages.is_empty()
-    }
-
     /// Returns the set of requirements that include all packages in the workspace.
     pub fn members_requirements(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = Requirement> + '_ {
         self.packages.values().filter_map(|member| {
@@ -289,21 +294,21 @@ impl Workspace {
     /// Returns any requirements that are exclusive to the workspace root, i.e., not included in
     /// any of the workspace members.
     ///
-    /// For virtual workspaces, returns the dev dependencies in the workspace root, which are
-    /// the only dependencies that are not part of the workspace members.
+    /// For workspaces with non-project roots, returns the dev dependencies in the corresponding
+    /// `pyproject.toml`.
     ///
-    /// For non-virtual workspaces, returns an empty list.
-    pub fn root_requirements(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = Requirement> + '_ {
+    /// Otherwise, returns an empty list.
+    pub fn non_project_requirements(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = Requirement> + '_ {
         if self
             .packages
             .values()
             .any(|member| *member.root() == self.install_path)
         {
-            // If the workspace is non-virtual, the root is a member, so we don't need to include
-            // any root-only requirements.
+            // If the workspace has an explicit root, the root is a member, so we don't need to
+            // include any root-only requirements.
             Either::Left(std::iter::empty())
         } else {
-            // Otherwise, return the dev dependencies in the workspace root.
+            // Otherwise, return the dev dependencies in the non-project workspace root.
             Either::Right(
                 self.pyproject_toml
                     .tool
@@ -1166,14 +1171,14 @@ fn is_included_in_workspace(
 
 /// A project that can be synced.
 ///
-/// The project could be a package within a workspace, a real workspace root, or even a virtual
-/// workspace root.
+/// The project could be a package within a workspace, a real workspace root, or a (legacy)
+/// non-project workspace root, which can define its own dev dependencies.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum VirtualProject {
-    /// A project (which could be within a workspace, or an implicit workspace root).
+    /// A project (which could be a workspace root or member).
     Project(ProjectWorkspace),
-    /// A virtual workspace root.
-    Virtual(Workspace),
+    /// A (legacy) non-project workspace root.
+    NonProject(Workspace),
 }
 
 impl VirtualProject {
@@ -1227,7 +1232,8 @@ impl VirtualProject {
             .and_then(|tool| tool.uv.as_ref())
             .and_then(|uv| uv.workspace.as_ref())
         {
-            // Otherwise, if it contains a `tool.uv.workspace` table, it's a virtual workspace.
+            // Otherwise, if it contains a `tool.uv.workspace` table, it's a non-project workspace
+            // root.
             let project_path = std::path::absolute(project_root)
                 .map_err(WorkspaceError::Normalize)?
                 .clone();
@@ -1243,7 +1249,7 @@ impl VirtualProject {
             )
             .await?;
 
-            Ok(Self::Virtual(workspace))
+            Ok(Self::NonProject(workspace))
         } else {
             Err(WorkspaceError::MissingProject(pyproject_path))
         }
@@ -1258,10 +1264,10 @@ impl VirtualProject {
             VirtualProject::Project(project) => Some(VirtualProject::Project(
                 project.with_pyproject_toml(pyproject_toml)?,
             )),
-            VirtualProject::Virtual(workspace) => {
-                // If the project is virtual, the root isn't a member, so we can just update the
-                // top-level `pyproject.toml`.
-                Some(VirtualProject::Virtual(Workspace {
+            VirtualProject::NonProject(workspace) => {
+                // If this is a non-project workspace root, then by definition the root isn't a
+                // member, so we can just update the top-level `pyproject.toml`.
+                Some(VirtualProject::NonProject(Workspace {
                     pyproject_toml,
                     ..workspace.clone()
                 }))
@@ -1273,7 +1279,7 @@ impl VirtualProject {
     pub fn root(&self) -> &Path {
         match self {
             VirtualProject::Project(project) => project.project_root(),
-            VirtualProject::Virtual(workspace) => workspace.install_path(),
+            VirtualProject::NonProject(workspace) => workspace.install_path(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -1281,7 +1287,7 @@ impl VirtualProject {
     pub fn pyproject_toml(&self) -> &PyProjectToml {
         match self {
             VirtualProject::Project(project) => project.current_project().pyproject_toml(),
-            VirtualProject::Virtual(workspace) => &workspace.pyproject_toml,
+            VirtualProject::NonProject(workspace) => &workspace.pyproject_toml,
         }
     }
 
@@ -1289,7 +1295,7 @@ impl VirtualProject {
     pub fn workspace(&self) -> &Workspace {
         match self {
             VirtualProject::Project(project) => project.workspace(),
-            VirtualProject::Virtual(workspace) => workspace,
+            VirtualProject::NonProject(workspace) => workspace,
         }
     }
 
@@ -1299,7 +1305,7 @@ impl VirtualProject {
             VirtualProject::Project(project) => {
                 Either::Left(std::iter::once(project.project_name()))
             }
-            VirtualProject::Virtual(workspace) => Either::Right(workspace.packages().keys()),
+            VirtualProject::NonProject(workspace) => Either::Right(workspace.packages().keys()),
         }
     }
 
@@ -1314,11 +1320,11 @@ impl VirtualProject {
     ) -> impl Iterator<Item = &pep508_rs::Requirement<VerbatimParsedUrl>> {
         match self {
             VirtualProject::Project(_) => {
-                // For non-virtual projects, dev dependencies are attached to the members.
+                // For projects, dev dependencies are attached to the members.
                 Either::Left(std::iter::empty())
             }
-            VirtualProject::Virtual(workspace) => {
-                // For virtual projects, we might have dev dependencies that are attached to the
+            VirtualProject::NonProject(workspace) => {
+                // For non-projects, we might have dev dependencies that are attached to the
                 // workspace root (which isn't a member).
                 if name == &*DEV_DEPENDENCIES {
                     Either::Right(
@@ -1339,17 +1345,17 @@ impl VirtualProject {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Return the [`PackageName`] of the project, if it's not a virtual workspace root.
+    /// Return the [`PackageName`] of the project, if available.
     pub fn project_name(&self) -> Option<&PackageName> {
         match self {
             VirtualProject::Project(project) => Some(project.project_name()),
-            VirtualProject::Virtual(_) => None,
+            VirtualProject::NonProject(_) => None,
         }
     }
 
     /// Returns `true` if the project is a virtual workspace root.
-    pub fn is_virtual(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(self, VirtualProject::Virtual(_))
+    pub fn is_non_project(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, VirtualProject::NonProject(_))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/add.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/add.rs
index 9c97d42d8..991d8694c 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/add.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/add.rs
@@ -200,14 +200,14 @@ pub(crate) async fn add(
             VirtualProject::discover(&CWD, &DiscoveryOptions::default()).await?
         };
 
-        // For virtual projects, allow dev dependencies, but nothing else.
-        if project.is_virtual() {
+        // For non-project workspace roots, allow dev dependencies, but nothing else.
+        if project.is_non_project() {
             match dependency_type {
                 DependencyType::Production => {
-                    anyhow::bail!("Found a virtual workspace root, but virtual projects do not support production dependencies (instead, use: `{}`)", "uv add --dev".green())
+                    bail!("Found a non-project workspace root; production dependencies are unsupported (instead, use: `{}`)", "uv add --dev".green())
                 }
                 DependencyType::Optional(_) => {
-                    anyhow::bail!("Found a virtual workspace root, but virtual projects do not support optional dependencies (instead, use: `{}`)", "uv add --dev".green())
+                    bail!("Found a non-project workspace root; optional dependencies are unsupported (instead, use: `{}`)", "uv add --dev".green())
                 }
                 DependencyType::Dev => (),
             }
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/lock.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/lock.rs
index 37ca4f70e..53153a78f 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/lock.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/lock.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ use uv_resolver::{
     ResolverMarkers, SatisfiesResult,
 };
 use uv_types::{BuildContext, BuildIsolation, EmptyInstalledPackages, HashStrategy};
-use uv_warnings::warn_user;
+use uv_warnings::{warn_user, warn_user_once};
 use uv_workspace::{DiscoveryOptions, Workspace};
 
 use crate::commands::pip::loggers::{DefaultResolveLogger, ResolveLogger, SummaryResolveLogger};
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ async fn do_lock(
     } = settings;
 
     // Collect the requirements, etc.
-    let requirements = workspace.root_requirements().collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    let requirements = workspace.non_project_requirements().collect::<Vec<_>>();
     let overrides = workspace.overrides().into_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>();
     let constraints = workspace.constraints();
     let dev = vec![DEV_DEPENDENCIES.clone()];
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ async fn do_lock(
         // If this is a non-virtual project with a single member, we can omit it from the lockfile.
         // If any members are added or removed, it will inherently mismatch. If the member is
         // renamed, it will also mismatch.
-        if members.len() == 1 && !workspace.is_virtual() {
+        if members.len() == 1 && !workspace.is_non_project() {
             members.clear();
         }
 
@@ -313,19 +313,15 @@ async fn do_lock(
         if requires_python.is_unbounded() {
             let default =
                 RequiresPython::greater_than_equal_version(&interpreter.python_minor_version());
-            warn_user!("The workspace `requires-python` value does not contain a lower bound: `{requires_python}`. Set a lower bound to indicate the minimum compatible Python version (e.g., `{default}`).");
+            warn_user_once!("The workspace `requires-python` value does not contain a lower bound: `{requires_python}`. Set a lower bound to indicate the minimum compatible Python version (e.g., `{default}`).");
         }
         requires_python
     } else {
         let default =
             RequiresPython::greater_than_equal_version(&interpreter.python_minor_version());
-        if workspace.only_virtual() {
-            debug!("No `requires-python` in virtual-only workspace. Defaulting to `{default}`.");
-        } else {
-            warn_user!(
-                "No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `{default}`."
-            );
-        }
+        warn_user_once!(
+            "No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `{default}`."
+        );
         default
     };
 
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/python/pin.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/python/pin.rs
index 553762f72..0f5b4681e 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/python/pin.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/python/pin.rs
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ fn assert_pin_compatible_with_project(pin: &Pin, virtual_project: &VirtualProjec
             let requires_python = find_requires_python(project_workspace.workspace())?;
             (requires_python, "project")
         }
-        VirtualProject::Virtual(workspace) => {
+        VirtualProject::NonProject(workspace) => {
             debug!(
                 "Discovered virtual workspace at: {}",
                 workspace.install_path().display()
diff --git a/crates/uv/tests/edit.rs b/crates/uv/tests/edit.rs
index 81a796865..c22e21363 100644
--- a/crates/uv/tests/edit.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/tests/edit.rs
@@ -3511,9 +3511,9 @@ fn add_lower_bound_local() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-/// Add dependencies to a virtual workspace root.
+/// Add dependencies to a (legacy) non-project workspace root.
 #[test]
-fn add_virtual() -> Result<()> {
+fn add_non_project() -> Result<()> {
     let context = TestContext::new("3.12");
 
     let pyproject_toml = context.temp_dir.child("pyproject.toml");
@@ -3530,7 +3530,7 @@ fn add_virtual() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
-    error: Found a virtual workspace root, but virtual projects do not support production dependencies (instead, use: `uv add --dev`)
+    error: Found a non-project workspace root; production dependencies are unsupported (instead, use: `uv add --dev`)
     "###);
 
     // Adding `iniconfig` as optional should fail, since virtual workspace roots don't support
@@ -3541,7 +3541,7 @@ fn add_virtual() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
-    error: Found a virtual workspace root, but virtual projects do not support optional dependencies (instead, use: `uv add --dev`)
+    error: Found a non-project workspace root; optional dependencies are unsupported (instead, use: `uv add --dev`)
     "###);
 
     // Adding `iniconfig` as a dev dependency should succeed.
@@ -3551,6 +3551,7 @@ fn add_virtual() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.12`.
     Resolved 1 package in [TIME]
     Prepared 1 package in [TIME]
     Installed 1 package in [TIME]
diff --git a/crates/uv/tests/lock.rs b/crates/uv/tests/lock.rs
index 7caef8f66..d016fba15 100644
--- a/crates/uv/tests/lock.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/tests/lock.rs
@@ -9463,7 +9463,7 @@ fn lock_new_constraints() -> Result<()> {
 /// Lock a `pyproject.toml`, add a new constraint, and ensure that the lockfile is updated on the
 /// next run.
 #[test]
-fn lock_remove_member_virtual() -> Result<()> {
+fn lock_remove_member_non_project() -> Result<()> {
     let context = TestContext::new("3.12");
 
     // Create a virtual workspace root.
@@ -9592,6 +9592,7 @@ fn lock_remove_member_virtual() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.12`.
     Resolved in [TIME]
     error: The lockfile at `uv.lock` needs to be updated, but `--locked` was provided. To update the lockfile, run `uv lock`.
     "###);
@@ -9603,6 +9604,7 @@ fn lock_remove_member_virtual() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.12`.
     Resolved in [TIME]
     Removed anyio v4.3.0
     Removed idna v3.6
@@ -10656,9 +10658,9 @@ fn lock_overlapping_environment() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-/// Lock a virtual project with forked dev dependencies.
+/// Lock a (legacy) non-project workspace root with forked dev dependencies.
 #[test]
-fn lock_virtual_fork() -> Result<()> {
+fn lock_non_project_fork() -> Result<()> {
     let context = TestContext::new("3.10");
 
     let pyproject_toml = context.temp_dir.child("pyproject.toml");
@@ -10681,6 +10683,7 @@ fn lock_virtual_fork() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.10`.
     Resolved 6 packages in [TIME]
     "###);
 
@@ -10787,6 +10790,7 @@ fn lock_virtual_fork() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.10`.
     Resolved 6 packages in [TIME]
     "###);
 
@@ -10798,6 +10802,7 @@ fn lock_virtual_fork() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.10`.
     Resolved 6 packages in [TIME]
     "###);
 
@@ -10822,6 +10827,7 @@ fn lock_virtual_fork() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.10`.
     Resolved 7 packages in [TIME]
     Added iniconfig v2.0.0
     "###);
@@ -10845,9 +10851,9 @@ fn lock_virtual_fork() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-/// Lock a virtual project with a conditional dependency.
+/// Lock a (legacy) non-project workspace root with a conditional dependency.
 #[test]
-fn lock_virtual_conditional() -> Result<()> {
+fn lock_non_project_conditional() -> Result<()> {
     let context = TestContext::new("3.12");
 
     let pyproject_toml = context.temp_dir.child("pyproject.toml");
@@ -10867,6 +10873,7 @@ fn lock_virtual_conditional() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.12`.
     Resolved 3 packages in [TIME]
     "###);
 
@@ -10927,6 +10934,7 @@ fn lock_virtual_conditional() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.12`.
     Resolved 3 packages in [TIME]
     "###);
 
@@ -10938,6 +10946,7 @@ fn lock_virtual_conditional() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.12`.
     Resolved 3 packages in [TIME]
     "###);
 
diff --git a/crates/uv/tests/sync.rs b/crates/uv/tests/sync.rs
index b77033840..803c5f24b 100644
--- a/crates/uv/tests/sync.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/tests/sync.rs
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ fn empty() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.12`.
     Resolved in [TIME]
     Audited in [TIME]
     "###);
@@ -211,6 +212,7 @@ fn empty() -> Result<()> {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: No `requires-python` value found in the workspace. Defaulting to `>=3.12`.
     Resolved in [TIME]
     Audited in [TIME]
     "###);