moral

[ mawr-uhl, mor- ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical:

   moral attitudes.

2. expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as a speaker or a literary work.
3. founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom:

   moral obligations.

4. capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct:

   a moral being.

5. conforming to the rules of right conduct ( immoral ):

   a moral man.

   Synonyms: honorable, virtuous, open, straightforward, honest, upright

6. virtuous in sexual matters; chaste.
7. of, relating to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character:

   moral support.

8. resting upon convincing grounds of probability; virtual:

   a moral certainty.

noun

1. the moral teaching or practical lesson contained in a fable, tale, experience, etc.
2. the embodiment or type of something.
3. morals, principles or habits with respect to right or wrong conduct.

   Synonyms: morality, integrity

moral

/ ˈmɒrəl /

adjective

1. concerned with or relating to human behaviour, esp the distinction between good and bad or right and wrong behaviour

   moral sense

2. adhering to conventionally accepted standards of conduct
3. based on a sense of right and wrong according to conscience

   moral law

   moral courage

4. having psychological rather than tangible effects

   moral support

5. having the effects but not the appearance of (victory or defeat)

   a moral victory

   a moral defeat

6. having a strong probability

   a moral certainty

7. law (of evidence, etc) based on a knowledge of the tendencies of human nature

noun

1. the lesson to be obtained from a fable or event

   point the moral

2. a concise truth; maxim
3. plural principles of behaviour in accordance with standards of right and wrong

Derived Forms

• ˈmorally, adverb

Other Words From

• moral·less adjective
• anti·moral adjective
• hyper·moral adjective
• hyper·moral·ly adverb
• over·moral adjective
• over·moral·ly adverb
• pre·moral adjective
• pre·moral·ly adverb
• pseudo·moral adjective
• quasi-moral adjective
• quasi-moral·ly adverb
• super·moral adjective
• super·moral·ly adverb
• under·moral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of moral¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin mōrālis, equivalent to mōr- (stem of mōs ) “usage, custom” + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of moral¹

C14: from Latin mōrālis relating to morals or customs, from mōs custom

Synonym Study

Morals, ethics refer to rules and standards of conduct and practice. Morals refers to generally accepted customs of conduct and right living in a society, and to the individual's practice in relation to these: the morals of our civilization. Ethics now implies high standards of honest and honorable dealing, and of methods used, especially in the professions or in business: ethics of the medical profession.

Example Sentences

“The moral thing to do is instead charge them hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

From Los Angeles Times

What I realized, though — first through rewatching the film and then through recapitulating the early stages of my own career — is that the moral of the story, as narrated by Ricky Jay, never has been about chance, or even destiny.

From Los Angeles Times

For this reason, it seems not everyone is shy about their delight or perceived moral vindication in Thompson’s death.

From Salon

They simply need to share the same moral values.

From Salon

Charlamagne Tha God thinks that Democrats can no longer claim any moral authority after President Joe Biden pardoned his son.

From Salon

Related Words

• ethical
• good
• honest
• noble
• principled
• proper
• righteous