On 'Moral' and 'Morale'

Go (and make good decisions) team!

The Meaning and Usage of 'Moral' as an Adjective

Moral and morale differ by one letter and in pronunciation, but can nonetheless easily be confused.

Moral can be an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, it pertains to things that are concerned with whether one's behavior is right or wrong, a field that is also known as ethics.

As more and more Americans become eligible for Covid-19 vaccines despite their limited supply, deciding whether to take an available shot has turned into a moral quandary. There’s no question that vaccine access has been inequitable across parts of the country. But many medical ethicists agree: If you are eligible for a vaccination, you should get it, no matter how worthy — or unworthy — you feel.
— Melinda Wenner Moyer, The New York Times, 21 Jan. 2021

Taking an oath of office carries with it a moral obligation to protect and care for all of the members of the community. Sadly, the heaviest burdens of keeping our communities safe and healthy often fall on our most vulnerable citizens.
— Leonard Jackson et al., The Reno Gazette Journal, 3 Aug. 2020

The Meaning and Usage of 'Moral' as a Noun

The noun moral is used in plural to refer to moral practices or teachings or modes of conduct—in other words, behavior that accords with what a person believes is right. The singular noun moral can also refer to a lesson or truth that can be understood from a story or experience.

Roe is a fifth generation resident of the railroad town of Herington who believes the values, morals and work ethic that comes from small town living makes for admirable, hirable young adults.
— Aaron Anders, The Salina Journal, 7 Mar. 2021

This adaptation really emphasizes the idea of friendship overcoming differences, keeping the focus on Wilbur and Charlotte. … When Wilbur turns to the audience and tells us that “not often someone comes along who’s a true friend,” we know that is the moral of the tale we should take home with us.
— Lawrence Bernabo, The Duluth News Tribune, 28 Feb. 2021

The Meaning and Usage of 'Morale'

Morale is a French-derived noun that originally, like moral, referred to ethical teaching or conduct. (The French root had also been spelled moral, but the word had its spelling modified to the English morale while keeping its distinct pronunciation.) Nowadays, morale is more likely to refer to a sense of purpose or enthusiasm shared by members of a group (such as members of a team or work crew).

Yet when the 25-year-old decided to get out his violin one day at Hedi Chaker Hospital in the city of Sfax and play, it won praise for boosting the morale of virus sufferers who remained isolated and needed a smile. The reaction of the patients was immediate — smiling, clapping and some with their fists up — celebrating the impromptu "concert." Some were surprised to discover that it was the doctor on the fiddle.
— Mehdi El Arem, Associated Press, 21 Feb. 2021

A morale booster is something that enhances the morale among a group of people.

The expansion of the city's police headquarters has been an "absolute morale booster" for police officers, according to Chief Brian Hubbard. "I've talked about more space with the mayor for years and years," Hubbard said last week. "It finally got around to where everything fell in place, and we just did it."
— Lynn Kutter, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 28 Feb. 2021

When moral and morale are confused, it’s usually a case of not knowing that morale has its own spelling. So you might see instances of something being a “moral booster.” Remembering that morale is a way of expressing enthusiasm, which begins with e, might help you keep them straight.