First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1moral
adjective mor·al \ˈmȯr-əl, ˈmär-\
: concerning or relating to what is right and wrong in human behavior
: based on what you think is right and good
: considered right and good by most people : agreeing with a standard of right behavior
Full Definition of MORAL
1
a : of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior : ethical <moral judgments> b : expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior <a moral poem> c : conforming to a standard of right behavior d : sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment <a moral obligation> e : capable of right and wrong action <a moral agent>
3
: perceptual or psychological rather than tangible or practical in nature or effect <a moral victory> <moral support>
— mor·al·ly \-ə-lē\ adverb
See moral defined for English-language learners
See moral defined for kids
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Examples of MORAL
- Nor did these lawyers and bankers walk about suffused with guilt. They had the moral equivalent of teflon on their soul. Church on Sunday, foreclose on Monday. —Norman Mailer, New York Review of Books, 27 March 2002
- … trip-wire sensitivity to perceived insult often leads to unjustifiable firings and other moral and legal imbroglios. —John McWhorter, New Republic, 14 Jan. 2002
- The modern liberal state was premised on the notion that in the interests of political peace, government would not take sides among the differing moral claims made by religion and traditional culture. —Francis Fukuyama, Atlantic, May 1999
- It was our desire for a moral world, the deep wish to assert the existence of goodness, that generated, as it continues to do, political fantasy. —Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987
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Origin of MORAL
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin moralis, from mor-, mos custom
Related to MORAL
Synonym Discussion of MORAL
moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong <the basic moral values of a community>. ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity <committed to the highest ethical principles>. virtuous implies moral excellence in character <not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless>. righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious <wished to be righteous before God and the world>. noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character <had the noblest of reasons for seeking office>.
Other Philosophy Terms
2moral
noun mor·al \ˈmȯr-əl, ˈmär-; 3 is mə-ˈral\
: a lesson that is learned from a story or an experience
morals : proper ideas and beliefs about how to behave in a way that is considered right and good by most people
Full Definition of MORAL
1
a : the moral (see 1moral) significance or practical lesson (as of a story) b : a passage pointing out usually in conclusion the lesson to be drawn from a story
3
: morale
See moral defined for English-language learners
Origin of MORAL
(see 1moral)
First Known Use: 15th century
Other Literature Terms
MORAL Defined for Kids
1moral
adjective mor·al \ˈmȯr-əl\
Definition of MORAL for Kids
1
: concerned with or relating to what is right and wrong in human behavior <moral problems> <a moral judgment>
2
: able to teach a lesson of how people should behave <a moral story>
4
: able to tell right from wrong <Humans are moral beings.>
— mor·al·ly adverb <morally wrong behavior>
2moral
noun
Definition of MORAL for Kids
1
: the lesson to be learned from a story or experience
2
morals plural : ways of behaving : moral conduct <They have a high standard of morals.>
3
morals plural : teachings or rules of right behavior
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