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

Elsewhere, an extra treat out of the showcase was this exclusive interview with Bullet Train Explosion director Shinji Higuchi, who talked casting singer-actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and the morality behind the film. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2025

There is no bedrock to build on, in the world or in morality. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

There are great Star Wars projects and terrible Star Wars projects, but even the best ones, like Empire Strikes Back, are framed in relative black-and-white morality, designed to evoke the kid-friendly pulp and adventure stories that George Lucas loved so much as a child. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025

When the tour and LIV were in the most bruising parts of this saga, the tour wrapped itself in morality and the American flag. —Alan Blinder, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing morality

• morality play

Rhymes for morality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• legality

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