morale

American  

[muh-ral] / məˈræl /

noun

1. emotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness, confidence, zeal, etc., especially in the face of opposition, hardship, etc..

   the morale of the troops.

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morale British  

/ mɒˈrɑːl /

noun

1. the degree of mental or moral confidence of a person or group; spirit of optimism

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Etymology

Origin of morale

First recorded in 1745–55; from French, noun use of feminine of moral “custom”; see origin at moral

Explanation

Morale is the spirit a group has that makes them want to succeed. It's a sense of well-being that comes from confidence, usefulness, and purpose. We often talk about the morale of groups in tough situations, and we can describe them as having "good morale" or "low morale." If too many members of a combat unit are killed and the surviving soldiers start to doubt they’ll make it home alive, then their morale is very very low. We can also talk about individual morale. In order to succeed, a sailor on a solo trip around the world needs plenty of ways to keep her morale up.

Example Sentences

Supported by unnamed donors, he offers encouragement and religious-based morale boosts to politicians or their mutual benefactors.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

But a massive ramp-up in defence and infrastructure spending may be offsetting the conflict's impact and helping to bolster business morale, analysts said.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Successful local counterattacks are boosting morale, said the commander of a drone unit in Ukraine’s Presidential Brigade fighting on the southern front.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

He said the recent pay structure changes have led to a boost in morale, as has the promise of upgraded equipment.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

Even the smallest of ceremonies helped to boost morale, and the honor of becoming Guards was no small achievement.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• attitude
• mood
• resolve
• self-confidence
• spirit