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

Example Sentences

Wind-swept Catherine is as constrained by societal mores as geographic ones.

From Los Angeles Times

Emails reveal the wealthy taking proxy measures of one another’s yachts and villas, showboating their riches in ways that make Tom Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities” look like a genteel glimpse into society mores.

From The Wall Street Journal

“They like makings me look like a monster because of way I looks maybe. All my life’s I been told to be quiet and do what I was told. No mores.”

From Los Angeles Times

European and American mores on speech are on a collision course.

From The Wall Street Journal

The world is endlessly fascinating, and getting more so in this era of rapid change in technology, cultural mores, and politics.

From The Wall Street Journal