immorality

immorality — noun

1. the quality or practice of doing things that most people in a community consider

1.nounB2
Definition

the quality or practice of doing things that most people in a community consider wrong, harmful, or dishonest because they break widely accepted moral principles.

Example

The journalist wrote a detailed report on the immorality of accepting bribes from large corporations.

collocation: the immorality of + gerund

Tanvi left the company, unable to tolerate the immorality of its business practices.

Common collocations
  • the immorality of + noun/gerund
  • sexual immorality
  • social immorality
  • condemn the immorality of
  • evidence of immorality
  • accuse someone of immorality
  • a sign of immorality
  • immorality in (politics/business/the workplace)
Synonyms
  • wrongdoing

    a broader, more neutral term covering any illegal or dishonest behaviour

  • corruption

    specifically about dishonest or illegal behaviour by people in positions of power

  • vice

    often used in religious or moral contexts, suggesting habitual bad behaviour such as drinking or gambling

  • wickedness

    a stronger word that suggests deliberate evil intent rather than just wrong action

Antonyms
  • morality

    the direct opposite; principles concerning right and wrong behaviour

  • virtue

    active goodness or moral excellence, rather than just the absence of wrongdoing

Grammar Patterns

the immorality of + noun phrase / gerund

Usage Note

Typically used in formal, academic, or journalistic writing rather than casual conversation. Often followed by 'of' to specify the kind of wrong action (e.g., 'the immorality of lying under oath'). Unlike the adjective 'immoral', the noun form is less frequent in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

The government was accused of many immoralities.
The government was accused of many immoral acts.
'immorality' is usually uncountable when referring to the general concept; use 'immoral acts' or 'immoral behaviour' for specific instances.

Word family

  • immoral
    adjectiveB2
  • immorally
    adverbC1
  • morality
    nounB2
  • moral
    adjectiveA2
  • morally
    adverbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe morally bad behaviour, but they differ in scope and intensity. 'Wrongdoing' is the broadest and most neutral term — it covers any illegal or dishonest act, from a minor lie to a serious crime, and is common in legal and journalistic language. 'Corruption' narrows the focus to abuse of power for personal gain, especially in politics, business, or public institutions; it implies a system or position has been compromised. 'Vice' carries religious and historical weight, often referring to personal habits considered immoral, such as gambling, drinking, or greed. 'Wickedness' is the strongest of the four, implying deliberate evil intent — not just breaking rules, but actively wishing to cause harm. For example, a company hiding safety data would be 'wrongdoing' or 'corruption'; a person who deliberately poisons a neighbour would be described as acting with 'wickedness'.

wrongdoingcorruption ↗vice ↗wickedness

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • morally

Phrases

  • an act of immorality
  • a charge of immorality
  • accuse someone of immorality
  • condemn the immorality of something

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'immoralitas', formed by the prefix 'im-' (not) attached to 'moralis' (relating to good character or proper behaviour). The word entered English in the mid-16th century, initially used in religious and philosophical writing to describe behaviour that violated divine or natural law.