morality
noun
mo·ral·i·ty
mə-ˈra-lə-tē 
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 state—
Marjorie Grene
Marjorie Grene
b
moralities plural
: particular moral principles or rules of conduct
we were all brought up on one of these moralities—Psychiatry
Psychiatry3
: 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 world—P. B. Sears
P. B. SearsExamples 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
To catch up on his late rent, Winston talks himself into a job at We Deliver, a transportation company with a colorful clientele whose requests can’t help but loosen one’s morality.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Regardless of their personal morality, the jurors are going to have a negative view of Mr. Combs, no question.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
With childhood increasingly recognized as a distinct stage of life and education in the later nineteenth century, school texts and children’s books were one way to suggest to children a certain sort of morality and social grounding.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 May 2025
Discussions about political ideology, religion, gender roles and socio-cultural issues can be especially divisive, as they’re often tied to our sense of identity, morality and justice.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for morality
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The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Regardless of their personal morality, the jurors are going to have a negative view of Mr. Combs, no question.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
With childhood increasingly recognized as a distinct stage of life and education in the later nineteenth century, school texts and children’s books were one way to suggest to children a certain sort of morality and social grounding.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 May 2025
Discussions about political ideology, religion, gender roles and socio-cultural issues can be especially divisive, as they’re often tied to our sense of identity, morality and justice.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for morality
Cite this Entry
“Morality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morality. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
morality
noun
mo·ral·i·ty
mə-ˈral-ət-ē
plural moralities
1
: moral quality : virtue
judge the morality of an action
2
: a system of moral rules
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