morale
Americannoun
noun
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.
Vocabulary lists containing morale
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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The Things They Carried
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Stargirl
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But buyouts can be less damaging to morale than layoffs because of their voluntary nature.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
The concerns come at a time when Ukrainian air defence systems are running low and winter approaches, bringing with it intensified Russian strikes on energy infrastructure aimed at undermining public morale.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
A second head teachers' union has called for a halt to graded Ofsted inspections in England, saying it is "increasingly concerned about the welfare and morale" of its members.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
The former sheriff said he keeps up with the department he once ran, and that deputies frequently complain to him about understaffing and low morale.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Very strange hearing him acknowledge it, and it’s a bit of a morale boost to see he still cares.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
