moral compass

noun

plural moral compasses

: a set of beliefs or values that help guide ethical decisions, judgments, and behavior : an internal sense of right and wrong

Mr. Mandela was unique. How often in a generation does a giant walk among us, with brilliance and courage, guided by an immaculate moral compass?

—Tayari Jones

There are common causes for lapses in ethical judgment that can include ego, power, greed, fear, compulsion, embarrassment, rationalization, or basic lack of a moral compass.

—Kevin Woodhouse

Women who work hard to make businesses and communities better and help set our moral compasses with their actions are my heroes.

—Edie Boan

also : someone or something that serves as a standard for guiding moral choices, judgments, or behavior

Here was the lead character, the show's moral compass, played by its best-known actor—and this is what happens to him?

—Kristi Turnquist

In his role as manager of Changes Group Home in New London, Henderson serves as a moral compass for young men who need direction.

—Tim Frogerg

Examples of moral compass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With his roundhouse kicks, tough-guy one-liners and a formidable moral compass, Chuck Norris delivered kick-ass heroes for years on screens large and small, cementing himself in pop culture back in the 1980s. —Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026

Lev is the deuteragonist of Abby’s storyline in Naughty Dog’s game, serving as her partner and moral compass. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026

But the moral compass never wavered, and the love was never in doubt. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026

That these images aren’t used to elicit sorrow or righteous anger isn’t a problem in and of itself; rather, the issue is that they aren’t substituted with worthwhile alternatives that stir one’s soul, or one’s moral compass. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for moral compass

• encompass
• rumpus

Kids Definition

moral compass

noun

: a set of beliefs or values that help guide ethical decisions, judgments, and behavior : an internal sense of right and wrong