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

The rest of Damian McCarthy’s folky horror film is a Tales From the Crypt–style morality tale as Dani’s psychic twin sister (also Bracken, natch) tries to find justice with help from the aforementioned life-size doll. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024

After the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman arrested by Iran's morality police for violating hijab rules in 2022, nationwide and global protests ensued, unsuccessfully pushing the government to make changes regarding women's rights in Iran. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024

The authorities who enforce the modesty laws, often called the morality police, have eased public confrontations with women over veiling since President Masoud Pezeshkian was elected this year. —Doha Madani, NBC News, 15 Dec. 2024

But what of the apologists for madness and criminality, the comfortable sophists who invert morality to score partisan points? —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 14 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