morality
noun
mo·ral·i·ty
mə-ˈra-lə-tē 
mȯ-
plural moralities
1
a
: a doctrine or system of moral conduct
… the basic law which an adequate morality ought to state.—
Marjorie Grene
Marjorie Grene
b
moralities plural
: particular moral principles or rules of conduct
… we were all brought up on one of these moralities …—Psychiatry
Psychiatry2
: conformity to ideals of right human conduct
admitted the expediency of the law but questioned its morality
3
: moral conduct : virtue
… morality today involves a responsible relationship toward the laws of the natural world …—P. B. Sears
P. B. Sears4
a
: a moral discourse, statement, or lesson
ended his lecture with a trite morality
b
: a literary or other imaginative work teaching a moral lesson
"Aesop's Fables" is famous as a morality.
Examples of morality in a Sentence
The group is calling for a return to traditional morality.
two groups with clashing moralities
The decision may be legally justified, but I question its morality.
Recent Examples on the Web
Islamic Revolutionary Committees, or komiteh—predecessors to today’s morality police—swept up people for past affiliations, outspoken views and public behavior that ran against new rules or their Islam code, causing thousands to seek refuge abroad.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
When the pursuit of the truth calls character into question, a war over morality begins and a clash between #MomTok and #DadTok erupts.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
The boundaries of their politics, personal lives, and morality are porous.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
In the film, Grainier is perennially haunted by the man’s ghost, his face staring passively at Grainier whenever his conscience twinges at the clearly distorted justice of American civilization on the verge of consolidating its modern morality.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for morality
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Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
When the pursuit of the truth calls character into question, a war over morality begins and a clash between #MomTok and #DadTok erupts.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
The boundaries of their politics, personal lives, and morality are porous.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
In the film, Grainier is perennially haunted by the man’s ghost, his face staring passively at Grainier whenever his conscience twinges at the clearly distorted justice of American civilization on the verge of consolidating its modern morality.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for morality
Cite this Entry
“Morality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morality. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
morality
noun
mo·ral·i·ty
mə-ˈral-ət-ē
plural moralities
1
: moral quality : virtue
judge the morality of an action
2
: a system of moral rules
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