Mores Definition & Meaning

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[ mawr-eyz, -eez, mohr- ]

/ ˈmɔr eɪz, -iz, ˈmoʊr- /

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plural noun Sociology.

folkways of central importance accepted without question and embodying the fundamental moral views of a group.

OTHER WORDS FOR mores

customs, conventions, practices.

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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 mores

1905–10; <Latin mōres, plural of mōs usage, custom

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

How to use mores in a sentence

For three decades, ‘Puck’ waged war on all things holy—politicians, social mores, and the news.
The Magazine That Made—and Unmade—Politicians|Anthony Haden-Guest|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Women have long expressed their sexuality—and the mores of the time—through their choice of undergarments.
What Lies Beneath: How Lingerie Got Sexy|Raquel Laneri|June 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cultural conservatives will put up with a certain amount of pandering to more modern mores with a nudge and a wink.
The GOP and the Young|Michael Tomasky|June 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I think it was more about sexual mores, mating and dating rituals in the city, cultural anthropology.
Candace Bushnell Defends ‘The Carrie Diaries’|Ramin Setoodeh|March 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The change is not in the mores of France, but in its geopolitical and economic history.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn Settles With Maid: How the Case Changed France|Christopher Dickey|December 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Quid sit Nova Francia, qualis regio, qui in e populi, quique mores.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Increpaui ego, vt potui, per interpret paganicos hos mores in iam Christianis.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
It includes accommodation to the folkways, the mores, the conventions, and the social ritual (Sittlichkeit).
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park
Professional faults arouse a much feebler response than offenses against the mores of the larger society.
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park
The mores, as thus conceived, are the judgments of public opinion in regard to issues that have been settled and forgotten.
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park

British Dictionary definitions for mores

/ (ˈmɔːreɪz) /

pl n

sociol the customs and conventions embodying the fundamental values of a group or society

Word Origin for mores

C20: from Latin, plural of mōs custom

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

Cultural definitions for mores

[ (mawr-ayz, mawr-eez) ]

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.