# immoral

/ˌɪˈmɔɹəɫ/ (US) · /ɪmˈɒɹəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/immoral
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

describing behavior that is wrong or evil according to accepted standards of what is right. You use this for actions that break important moral rules.

For teachers: violating established principles of right and wrong; ethically unacceptable. Often used to describe conduct that is considered wicked or depraved rather than merely illegal.

## Examples

- Many people believe that lying for profit is immoral.
- The public condemned the company's decision to ignore safety warnings as deeply immoral and greedy.
- Philosophers often debate whether an action can be legally permissible while remaining fundamentally immoral within a specific ethical framework.

## Pitfalls

- Not "an amoral person" but "an immoral person" — Learners confuse 'immoral' (violating moral rules) with 'amoral' (lacking any moral sense or being indifferent to right and wrong).

## Usage notes

- Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'become'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.