morality

noun

mo·​ral·​i·​ty mə-ˈra-lə-tē 

mȯ-

plural moralities

1

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.

2

a

: a doctrine or system of moral conduct

the basic law which an adequate morality ought to state

—Marjorie Grene

b

moralities plural : particular moral principles or rules of conduct

we were all brought up on one of these moralities

—Psychiatry

3

: conformity to ideals of right human conduct

admitted the expediency of the law but questioned its morality

4

: moral conduct : virtue

morality today involves a responsible relationship toward the laws of the natural world

—P. B. Sears

Synonyms

• character
• decency
• goodness
• honesty
• integrity
• probity
• rectitude
• righteousness
• rightness
• uprightness
• virtue
• virtuousness

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

The three characters team up, but Noa is eventually dragged to the ape kingdom, presided over by a fearsome cult leader named Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), who has stolen the authority — but not the morality — of his namesake. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 May 2024

Antisemitism and fascist ideology are surging—and that trend is driving Hollywood’s demand for Holocaust scripts—as Jews weigh the morality of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. —TIME, 8 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing morality

• morality play

Kids 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