morality

noun

mo·​ral·​i·​ty mə-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce morality (audio)
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 stateMarjorie Grene
b
moralities plural : particular moral principles or rules of conduct
we were all brought up on one of these moralitiesPsychiatry
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 worldP. B. Sears

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It was considered immoral to lie and the whole point of writing things down back then was to increase morality and improve society, so there really is no didactic history of forgery. JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025 Still, the Catholic Legion of Decency and other morality groups would criticize the scene as indecent. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025 As other shoppers crowded around books about justice, morality and manga, Rachel Grossman had a corner almost to herself. Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025 Released in 1936, this morality tale against marijuana was financed by a long-defunct church group called the Motion Picture Guild. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for morality

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of morality was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Morality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morality. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

morality

noun
mo·​ral·​i·​ty mə-ˈral-ət-ē How to pronounce morality (audio)
plural moralities
1
: moral quality : virtue
judge the morality of an action
2
: a system of moral rules

More from Merriam-Webster on morality

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