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 The show was a religious experience in itself featuring restrained and delicate designs that are a mediation between founder Yin Jingwei and his morality. Gemma A. Williams, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 He was arrested on October 30, 2022 during the uprisings in Iran sparked by the murder of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, who was accused of improper head covering and died in the custody of the country’s morality police. Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 15 Oct. 2024 Arrested by Iran's morality police for violating the country's strict hijab laws, the 22-year-old died in custody after being beaten and tortured, sparking a wave of protests that rocked the regime and led to the deaths of hundreds of people and the detention of thousands more. Elliott Goat, The Week Uk, theweek, 10 Oct. 2024 But, as our laws and as our morality and as our minds are trying get used to this changing world, this show seems to be a really good format to ask those questions and dramatize some of that human struggle. Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for morality 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'morality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near morality

Cite this Entry

“Morality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morality. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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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