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

Both Ford and Mirren warn that Whitfield’s endless means and lack of morality will continue to bring a different kind of beast to the Duttons’ doorstep. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025

The morality of being a missileer – and minister David Feddern was also a missileer here in Echo-01. —Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2025

Baldwin’s departure from Christianity was not a rejection of morality but a refusal to align with a faith that, in his view, failed to live up to its ideals. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025

And a lot of conservatism in general is about upholding bourgeois lifestyles, morality, identity, politics, and so forth. —Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing morality

• morality play

Rhymes for morality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• legality

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