morality

noun

mo·​ral·​i·​ty mə-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce morality (audio)
mȯ-
plural moralities
Synonyms of morality
1
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 moralitiesPsychiatry
2
: 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
4
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
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His bad-boy swagger externally obfuscates his heart of gold, but his goodness and morality are apparent. Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026 Rather than abstract theory, Critchley shows how philosophers have confronted purpose, ambition, morality and mortality in their actual lives. Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 Experts in the tech industry, academia and Catholic morality said the document will likely become a benchmark in the debate over AI, a point of reference for policymakers, researchers and ordinary folk alike. Nicole Winfield, Fortune, 25 May 2026 In his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV put forth a defense of human dignity in the era of AI, delivering a far-ranging treatise on the morality of technology that included a dramatic plea for guardrails to ensure that artificial intelligence eases — rather than exacerbates — inequality and poverty. Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for morality

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Time Traveler
The first known use of morality was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Morality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morality. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

morality

noun
mo·​ral·​i·​ty mə-ˈral-ət-ē How to pronounce morality (audio)
plural moralities
1
: moral quality : virtue
judge the morality of an action
2
: a system of moral rules

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