morale

noun

mo·​rale mə-ˈral 

1

: moral principles, teachings, or conduct

2

a

: the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or tasks at hand

The team's morale is high.

b

: a sense of common purpose with respect to a group : esprit de corps

The ship's morale improved after two days of shore leave.

3

: the level of individual psychological well-being based on such factors as a sense of purpose and confidence in the future

The failure of his play did not affect his morale.

Examples of morale in a Sentence

The team is playing well and their morale is high.

The President's speech boosted the morale of the troops.

Recent Examples on the Web

Changing your living space will boost your morale and motivate you to take more leisure time. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

Employee relations: Employers must assess their risk tolerance regarding unlawful activities in the workplace and consider the potential impact on employee morale and productivity. —Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

Staff and ambulance shortages under Falck had been blamed for low staff morale and fatigue among paramedics and emergency medical technicians, which can compromise quality of care. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024

Doing his bit to strike a morale boosting note, Yermak said those who doubted Ukraine could still win the war should come and visit his country. —Andrew Carey, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024

Some of his priorities include changing the way council meetings are held and rebuilding morale among city employees. —Luke Nozicka, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

Even amid low morale and a tough turnaround at Citigroup, CEO Jane Fraser has maintained her reputation as a jokester—and not just on April 1. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

Inconsistency in volunteer help can significantly impact operational effectiveness and morale. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Too few breaks from work can cause burnout, fatigue, poor morale and lower job satisfaction. —Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1, from French, from feminine of moral, adjective; in other senses, modification of French moral morale, from moral, adjective

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

morale

noun

mo·​rale mə-ˈral 

: the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, spirit, or loyalty) of an individual or a group with regard to a task or goal to be accomplished