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

White House coup plots, Jennifer Tilly playing herself possessed by the spirit of the demon doll Tiffany, and Chucky grappling with his own morality couldn't save this tenacious little series. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024

Incorporating a mixture of bodycam, dash-camera, and cellphone footage to create a cinema verité effect, the innovative series explores the morality of protecting and serving a community. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024

After the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was arrested by Iran's morality police after allegedly violating hijab rules in 2022, nationwide protests broke out in protest of the government's treatment of women and pushing for women's rights. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

In late 2022, the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police led to some of the biggest protests the country had seen in decades. —Cnn Staff, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing morality

• morality play

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