morality
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Related to morality: morality play
morality
character or virtue; concern with the distinction between good and evil or right conduct; the right principles of human conduct: morality lessons
Not to be confused with:
mortality – the quality or state of being mortal; death rate; the ratio of deaths in a given area to the population of that area: mortality figures
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
mo·ral·i·ty
(mə-răl′ĭ-tē, mô-)n. pl. mo·ral·i·ties
1. The quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct: questioned the morality of my actions.
2. A system or collection of ideas of right and wrong conduct: religious morality; Christian morality.
3. Virtuous conduct: commended his morality.
4. A rule or lesson in moral conduct: sermons noted for their moralities.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
morality
(məˈrælɪtɪ)n, pl -ties
1. the quality of being moral
2. conformity, or degree of conformity, to conventional standards of moral conduct
3. (Philosophy) a system of moral principles
4. (Education) an instruction or lesson in morals
5. (Theatre) short for morality play
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
mo•ral•i•ty
(məˈræl ɪ ti, mɔ-)n., pl. -ties for 4–6.
1. conformity to the rules of right conduct; moral or virtuous conduct.
2. moral quality or character.
3. virtue in sexual matters; chastity.
4. a doctrine or system of morals.
5. moral instruction; a moral lesson, precept, discourse, or utterance.
syn: See goodness.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also related terms for moral.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
Morality
- As moral as any elder of the church —Rumer Godden
- Morality, like language, is an invented structure for conserving and communicating order —Jane Rule
- Morality without religion is a tree without roots —George Bernard Shaw
- Moral principles are like measles. They have to be caught —Aldous Huxley
- Morals are an acquirement, like music, like a foreign language, like piety, poker, paralysis, no man is born with them —Mark Twain
- The moral system of the universe is like a document written in alternate ciphers, which change from line to line —J. A. Froude
- Turning the other cheek is a kind of moral jiu-jitsu —Gerald Stanley Lee
- Wore her morality like long underwear —Delmore Schwartz Schwartz followed this entry in his journal with several alternative comparisons: “Fur coat, chemise, a rope of pearls.”
Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
moral
– morality – morale1. 'moral'
Moral (/mɒrəl/) can be an adjective, a count noun, or a plural noun.
When you use it as an adjective, it means 'relating to right and wrong behaviour'.
I have noticed a fall in moral standards.
It is our moral duty to stay.
The moral of a story is what it teaches you about how you should or should not behave.
The moral is clear: you must never marry for money.
Morals are principles of behaviour.
There can be no doubt about the excellence of his morals.
We agreed that business morals nowadays were very low.
2. 'morality'
Morality (/məræləti/) is the idea that some forms of behaviour are right and others are wrong.
Punishment always involves the idea of morality.
...standards of morality and justice in society.
3. 'morale'
Your morale (/mɒrɑːl/) is the amount of confidence you have when you are in a difficult or dangerous situation.
The morale of the men was good.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  morality - concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conductquality - an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone; "the quality of mercy is not strained"--Shakespeare righteousness - adhering to moral principles rightness - according with conscience or morality conscience - conformity to one's own sense of right conduct; "a person of unflagging conscience" immorality - the quality of not being in accord with standards of right or good conduct; "the immorality of basing the defense of the West on the threat of mutual assured destruction" |
| 2. | morality - motivation based on ideas of right and wrong motivation, motive, need - the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior; "we did not understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives" hedonism - the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle conscience, moral sense, scruples, sense of right and wrong - motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions Christ Within, Inner Light, Light Within, Light - a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
morality
noun
1. virtue, justice, principles, morals, honour, integrity, goodness, honesty, purity, decency, fair play, righteousness, good behaviour, propriety, chastity, probity, rectitude, rightness, uprightness an effort to preserve traditional morality
2. ethics, conduct, principles, ideals, morals, manners, habits, philosophy, mores, moral code aspects of Christian morality
3. rights and wrongs, ethics, ethicality the morality of blood sports
Quotations
"Morality is the herd-instinct in the individual" [Friedrich Nietzsche Die fröhliche Wissenschaft]
"Morality is a private and costly luxury" [Henry Brooks Adams The Education of Henry Adams]
"One becomes moral as soon as one is unhappy" [Marcel Proust Within a Budding Grove]
"Morality comes with the sad wisdom of age, when the sense of curiosity has withered" [Graham Greene A Sort of Life]
"Morality is the herd-instinct in the individual" [Friedrich Nietzsche Die fröhliche Wissenschaft]
"Morality is a private and costly luxury" [Henry Brooks Adams The Education of Henry Adams]
"One becomes moral as soon as one is unhappy" [Marcel Proust Within a Budding Grove]
"Morality comes with the sad wisdom of age, when the sense of curiosity has withered" [Graham Greene A Sort of Life]
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
morality
noun1. The quality or state of being morally sound:
2. The moral quality of a course of action:
3. A rule or habit of conduct with regard to right and wrong or a body of such rules and habits:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
أخلاقِيَّه، قَوانين الأخْلاق
morálka
moral
siîferîi
moralnost
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
morality
[məˈrælɪti] n → moralité fWe talked about the morality of hunting → Nous avons parlé de la moralité de la chasse.
traditional morality → la morale traditionnelle
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
moral
(ˈmorəl) adjective of, or relating to, character or behaviour especially right behaviour. high moral standards; He leads a very moral (= good) life.
noun the lesson to be learned from something that happens, or from a story. The moral of this story is that crime doesn't pay.
ˈmorally adverbmoˈrality noun
morals noun plural
one's principles and behaviour. He has no morals and will do anything for money.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
morality
n. ética, rectitud, moral.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012