mores

American  

[mawr-eyz, -eez, mohr-] / ˈmɔr eɪz, -iz, ˈmoʊr- /

plural noun

Sociology.

1. folkways of central importance accepted without question and embodying the fundamental moral views of a group.

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mores British  

/ ˈmɔːreɪz /

plural noun

1. sociol the customs and conventions embodying the fundamental values of a group or society

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mores Cultural  

1. The customs and manners of a social group or culture. Mores often serve as moral guidelines for acceptable behavior but are not necessarily religious or ethical.

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Etymology

Origin of mores

1905–10; < Latin mōres, plural of mōs usage, custom

Compare meaning

How does mores compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mores vs. folkways

Explanation

Mores are the customs, norms, and behaviors that are acceptable to a society or social group. If your personal morals are in disagreement with local mores, you should be prepared to be annoyed every time you read the local Letters to the Editor. Mores and morals have similar meanings — mores are the morals of a group or society itself. They are not necessarily based on written law and they can change. The mores of the Victorian era prescribed modesty for women. A Victorian traveling to our time would probably be shocked by current mores that allow women to wear shorts.

Example Sentences

Among the flavors: Mile Marker medium roast, a chocolate-tinged Some Mores variety, and Hazy Hiker, which offer a whiff of hazelnut.

From Washington Times • Sep. 26, 2022

Researchers are exploring how often, and in what situations, that kind of spread might happen, said Christopher Mores, a professor of global health at George Washington University.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2022

But none of those instances had as much resonance as the “Voice of Holland” scandal, Ms. Dekker of Mores said, partly because this case implicated well-known celebrities.

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2022

Tour the impressive summer residence of French nobleman Marquis de Mores, who founded Medora in 1883.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2015

Meanwhile, whatever genius might not be able to achieve, the five Miss Mores had been living on peacefully together in the very comfortable cottage which had been raised and thatched by the poetess's earnings.

From A Book of Sibyls Miss Barbauld, Miss Edgeworth, Mrs Opie, Miss Austen by Ritchie, Anne Thackeray