morale

noun

mo·​rale mə-ˈral 

1

: moral principles, teachings, or conduct

2

a

: the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or tasks at hand

The team's morale is high.

b

: a sense of common purpose with respect to a group : esprit de corps

The ship's morale improved after two days of shore leave.

3

: the level of individual psychological well-being based on such factors as a sense of purpose and confidence in the future

The failure of his play did not affect his morale.

Examples of morale in a Sentence

The team is playing well and their morale is high.

The President's speech boosted the morale of the troops.

Recent Examples on the Web

Teamwork saves time and improves morale. —Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026

Pending deals are always a drag on morale, and in the media business that can sometimes be seen onscreen. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026

Confirming a nominee who does not practice medicine would diminish the office, weaken morale within the Corps, and signal that political loyalty outweighs professional standards. —Jerome Adams, STAT, 27 Feb. 2026

In a post on X, Jack Dorsey said his payments company chose a single round of deep cuts instead of layoffs spread over months and years to protect morale and customer trust. —Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1, from French, from feminine of moral, adjective; in other senses, modification of French moral morale, from moral, adjective

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for morale

• canal
• chorale
• corral
• ghazal
• locale
• royale
• bal
• dal
• gal
• mal
• pal
• sal

Kids Definition

morale

noun

mo·​rale mə-ˈral 

: the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, spirit, or loyalty) of an individual or a group with regard to a task or goal to be accomplished