NGC4981 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Virgo. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is , which corresponds to a Hubble distance of . However, 20 non-redshift measurements give a closer distance of . It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 17 April 1784.
NGC4981 is a LINER galaxy, i.e. a galaxy whose nucleus has an emission spectrum characterized by broad lines of weakly ionized atoms.
According to A. M. Garcia, NGC4981 is part of the NGC 4995 group (also known as LGG 333). This group of galaxies has at least five members, including , , NGC 4995, and .
Two supernovae have been observed in NGC 4981: