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

By acknowledging achievements and providing continuous feedback, employees feel valued and engaged, which boosts morale and retention. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Punters should track managerial adjustments, tactical tweaks, and squad morale before placing mid-season wagers. —Julia Ranney, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Successful digital transformation often requires champions who can navigate complex changes and yet help retain the morale of employees. —Venkat Rao, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Outside of her instant popularity with the panel on ANTM, the judges noted an odd shift in her morale on the show, and she was shockingly eliminated halfway through the cycle. —EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for morale

• canal
• chorale
• corral
• ghazal
• locale
• royale
• bal
• dal
• gal
• mal
• pal
• sal

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