morality

[ muh-ral-i-tee, maw- ]

/ məˈræl ɪ ti, mɔ- /

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See synonyms for morality on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural mo·ral·i·ties for 4-6.

conformity to the rules of right conduct; moral or virtuous conduct.

moral quality or character.

virtue in sexual matters; chastity.

a doctrine or system of morals.

moral instruction; a moral lesson, precept, discourse, or utterance.

morality play.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of morality

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English moralite, from Late Latin mōrālitās; see moral, -ity

synonym study for morality

1. See goodness.

OTHER WORDS FROM morality

an·ti·mo·ral·i·ty, adjectivehy·per·mo·ral·i·ty, nounpre·mo·ral·i·ty, noun

Words nearby morality

morale, moral hazard, moralism, moralist, moralistic, morality, morality play, moralize, morally, Moral Majority, moral philosophy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT MORALITY

What is morality?

Morality is a conformity to the rules of good or virtuous conduct, as in Because he was leading a life according to morality, the knight declined the reward for rescuing the princess.

Morality is also an individual person’s goodness or virtuousness, as in Batman’s morality would not allow him to kill any evildoers.

Morality is also a system of rules regarding goodness or virtue, as in The Bible is the source of Christian morality.

Morality is a very complex concept that refers to the written or unwritten rules that society uses to determine what good behavior is. Good here means not evil and refers to behavior that people agree is honorable, just, or virtuous.

If you are concerned with morality, you want to be a good person and don’t want to commit evil acts. The rules of goodness that define morality are called morals and can come from many different sources, such as religion or cultural norms. The opposite of morality is immorality.

Example: I try to live my life according to morality, so I always tell the truth.

Where does morality come from?

The first records of morality come from around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Late Latin mōrālitās, meaning “human nature.” It combines the word moral, meaning “related to goodness,” and -ity, a suffix used to make abstract nouns that state a condition.

Morality differs from society to society and person to person. Many different factors can contribute to a person’s individual morality, such as religion, culture, education, life experiences, and parental guidance. However, some acts, such as cannibalism, are seen universally so horrible and vile.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to morality?

immorality (noun)
antimorality (adjective)
hypermorality (noun)
premorality (noun)

What are some synonyms for morality?

What are some words that share a root or word element with morality?

What are some words that often get used in discussing morality?

How is morality used in real life?

Morality is most often used to mean goodness and how well (or not) a person demonstrates conformity to society’s sense of it.

Making sure people don't go hungry isn't about ideology. It’s about morality.

— Robert Reich (@RBReich) December 11, 2020

If you don’t care about morality and human rights, maybe you care about money. These policies will prove disastrous for the US economy.

— Sarah Goodyear (@buttermilk1) January 29, 2017

Steve Kerr on lying on lineup: "Sorry, but I don't think they hand you the trophy based on morality. They give it to you if you win."

— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 12, 2015

Try using morality!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of morality?

A. virtue
B. goodness
C. decency
D. evilness

How to use morality in a sentence

There will be some counterfactual scenario in which the putative ground of morality is absent or points us toward evil rather than the good.
The Universe Knows Right from Wrong - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Philip Goff|September 9, 2020|Nautilus
The ground of morality is brought closer to us, but we still don’t have an account of how I come to know about its goal-directed nature through moral intuition.
The Universe Knows Right from Wrong - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Philip Goff|September 9, 2020|Nautilus
She spent the last two years researching computational morality at Mila, the Quebec AI Institute.
Why Mathematicians Should Stop Naming Things After Each Other - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Laura Ball|September 2, 2020|Nautilus
According to Kant, morality is ultimately about respect and love.
In The Time Of The COVID-19 Pandemic, What Should You Say To Someone Who Refuses To Wear A Mask? A Philosopher Weighs In|LGBTQ-Editor|August 30, 2020|No Straight News

Many scientists and humanists misunderstand the connection between evolution and morality, grimly determined that evolutionary facts are dangerous because they justify human misbehavior.
Just Because It’s Natural Doesn’t Mean It’s Good - Issue 89: The Dark Side|David P. Barash|August 19, 2020|Nautilus
In Ferguson, these values are seen as white values, the morality a white morality.
Prosecutor Used Grand Jury to Let Darren Wilson Walk|Tom Nolan|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For us, the police embrace nothing if not working- and middle-class values and morality.
Prosecutor Used Grand Jury to Let Darren Wilson Walk|Tom Nolan|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a country with a constitution that values secularism, religion is still the prime indicator of morality and goodness.
The Good Wife’s Religion Politics: Voters Have No Faith in Alicia's Atheism|Regina Lizik|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That the fate of marriage as an institution has little to do with morality—and a lot more to do with money.
The Real Enemy of Marital Bliss Are Those Most Opposed to Marriage Equality|Jay Michaelson|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All of this comes just as the Iranian parliament has passed a law that gives further powers to morality patrols.
Acid Attacks on Women Spread Terror in Iran|IranWire|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The ruse by which he and Lannes captured the bridge below Vienna was discreditable no doubt from the point of view of morality.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
A writer of the day said, “Mr. Hudson is neither better nor worse than the morality of his time.”
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Social betterment must depend at every stage on the force of public spirit and public morality that inspires it.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
It may be admitted at once that the direct influence on morality was very small indeed.
The Religion of Ancient Rome|Cyril Bailey
If we knew more of it, we should see more clearly where religion and morality joined hands, but we know enough to give us a clue.
The Religion of Ancient Rome|Cyril Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for morality

morality

/ (məˈrælɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the quality of being moral

conformity, or degree of conformity, to conventional standards of moral conduct

a system of moral principles

an instruction or lesson in morals

short for morality play

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

morality

Origin of morality

synonym study for morality

OTHER WORDS FROM morality

Words nearby morality

MORE ABOUT MORALITY

What is morality?

Where does morality come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is morality used in real life?

Try using morality!

Words related to morality

How to use morality in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for morality