morality

morality — noun

1. The collection of beliefs and principles that a person or group uses to decide w

1.nounB2
Definition

The collection of beliefs and principles that a person or group uses to decide what behaviour is right or wrong.

Example

Darius's strong sense of morality stopped him from taking money that was not his.

possessive + sense of morality

The elderly nun taught morality to village children by telling stories about kindness and forgiveness.

collocation: teach + morality

Common collocations
  • sense of morality
  • personal morality
  • public morality
  • teach morality
  • question of morality
Synonyms
  • ethics

    Similar but more formal; often refers to professional or institutional codes rather than personal beliefs

  • values

    Emphasises what someone considers important rather than a complete system of right and wrong

  • principles

    Refers to specific rules or standards rather than a whole system of beliefs

Antonyms
  • immorality

    The opposite system or behaviour, actively rejecting moral standards

Grammar Patterns

determiner + sense + of + morality

morality + is + [description]

the + moralities + of + [different groups] (rare)

Usage Note

Typically uncountable. The plural form 'moralities' is occasionally used to refer to the distinct moral systems of different groups or traditions. Not used with the indefinite article 'a' in standard usage.

Common Mistakes

She is a very morality person.
She is a very moral person.
'morality' is a noun, not an adjective; use the adjective 'moral' before a noun.

2. How right or acceptable an action, decision, or situation is judged to be, based

2.nounB2
Definition

How right or acceptable an action, decision, or situation is judged to be, based on what people consider good behaviour.

Example

The morality of the government's decision was questioned by human rights groups around the world.

the morality of [noun]

Some people doubt the morality of using animals to test new medicines for human diseases.

Common collocations
  • the morality of something
  • question the morality of
  • doubt the morality of
  • debate the morality of
Synonyms
  • integrity

    Focuses on honesty and consistency of character; more personal and narrower than morality

  • virtue

    Emphasises positive moral qualities; has a more approving, often religious tone

  • righteousness

    Stronger and more absolute; often used in religious contexts to mean morally blameless

Antonyms
  • immorality

    The quality of being morally wrong or unacceptable

Grammar Patterns

the + morality + of + [noun/gerund]

question/doubt/debate + the + morality + of + [something]

Usage Note

Always uncountable. Frequently followed by 'of + noun/gerund' to identify the specific action or situation being judged. The subject is commonly a decision, action, policy, or practice.

Common Mistakes

The morality of everyone should be improved.
Everyone's moral standards should be improved.
'morality' in this sense refers to the quality of an action, not directly to a person's character.

Word family

  • moral
    adjectiveB1
  • moral
    nounB2
  • morally
    adverbB2
  • moralize
    verbC1
  • immoral
    adjectiveB2
  • immorality
    nounC1
  • amoral
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While morality refers to a broad system of beliefs about right and wrong, morals are the specific rules or habits that make up that system — your morals are what you actually do, while your morality is the framework behind them. Ethics leans more formal and professional: a doctor's ethics come from a written code, whereas their morality might be personal and religious. Values are the things someone considers important (honesty, loyalty, freedom), which may or may not form a complete moral system. Principles are the firm rules that guide behaviour ('I never lie'), narrower than a whole morality. In everyday use: 'He has strong morals' means he acts rightly; 'She values honesty' describes what matters to her; 'The company has a code of ethics' refers to written rules.

moralsethics ↗valuesprinciples

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • sense of morality
  • question of morality
  • standard of morality
  • decline of morality

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Morality comes from the Latin word moralitas, meaning 'moral quality or character'. This was built from moralis, meaning 'of manners or customs', which itself came from mos (plural mores), the Latin word for 'custom' or 'habit'. The word entered English through Old French moralité in the 1300s, at first referring to moral instruction or a moral lesson, and later broadening to describe the general system of right and wrong.