morality play

noun

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of morality play

1 : an allegorical play popular especially in the 15th and 16th centuries in which the characters personify abstract qualities or concepts (such as virtues, vices, or death)

2 : something (such as a court trial) which involves a direct conflict between right and wrong or good and evil and from which a moral lesson may be drawn

See morality play defined for kids

Recent Examples of morality play from the Web

In a premiere from Echo Theater Company and Circle X Theatre Company, Yusuf Toropov’s metaphysical morality play draws on two Boston-area scandals from the early 1990s.

— philip brandes, latimes.com, "The 99-Seat Beat: Are we ready for some plays about moral responsibility?," 16 Mar. 2018
As literature, Drozdiak’s morality play has much to recommend it.

— michael kimmage, New Republic, "What Happened to the European Union?," 8 Jan. 2018
One thing is clear: Everyone in this 21st-century morality play has blood on his hands, capitalists and jihadists alike.

— andrea simakis, cleveland.com, "Ayad Akhtar's hostage drama 'The Invisible Hand' at Cleveland Play House: There will be blood, on all sides (review)," 28 Feb. 2018
Drozdiak’s morality play of populism at war with Europe or of Europe turning in upon itself is a story of Europe interrupted.

— michael kimmage, New Republic, "What Happened to the European Union?," 8 Jan. 2018
These works are morality plays about courage and determination.

— alan furst, New York Times, "One of the Men Who ‘Set Europe Ablaze’," 2 Feb. 2018
People who actually care about health care policy, and not about wedging the poor and frail into a character in some sort of cheap morality play, are predictably aghast.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Hey, You, Get Back to Work!," 11 Jan. 2018
On the other hand, supporters of the European Union and of the transatlantic relationship are not in need of any more morality plays.

— michael kimmage, New Republic, "What Happened to the European Union?," 8 Jan. 2018
That said, wow, Brooker really does know more than anyone else dabbling in this kind of tech/future morality play how to precisely mine ever-escalating scenarios, ratcheting up the ethical trade-offs and moral quandaries facing the players.

— tim goodman, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Black Mirror' Season 4: TV Review," 12 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'morality play.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.