morality play

noun

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

Examples of morality play in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are visual references to refugees, immigrants, medieval morality plays, New Orleans funerals. —David Hochman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

Lee’s lively reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime drama High and Low just seeks to stage an entertaining morality play. —Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025

But the Ring of Honor isn’t about morality plays or personality contests. —Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025

Anti-Zionism rejects compromise, shuns a two-state solution and flattens a complex conflict to a simple morality play. —Jason Nevarez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for morality play

• asteraceae
• cyperaceae
• immunoassay
• rubiaceae
• umbelliferae
• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete

Kids Definition

morality play

noun

: a type of play popular especially in the 15th and 16th centuries in which the characters stand for moral qualities (as virtue or vice) or conditions (as death)