English Reference
Noun

morale

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /mɝˈæɫ/ UK /məɹˈæl/ morale UK spelling morales

n.the amount of confidence and enthusiasm a group of people feels. When people have high morale, they feel positive and work well together.

n.the mental and emotional state of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty of an individual or a group with regard to a shared task or goal.


SIMPLE

The team's morale is high after their big win.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager organized a lunch to boost morale after the staff had worked several long weekends in a row.

COMPLEX

Sustaining high morale during a prolonged corporate restructuring requires transparent communication and a clear sense of purpose from the executive leadership team.

Usage

Typically used with adjectives like 'high', 'low', 'boost', or 'sink'.

Don't confuse

morale vs moral — Moral concerns the principles of right and wrong, while morale describes the emotional state or confidence of a group.

Pitfall
The story has a good morale.The story has a good moral.

Learners often confuse 'morale' (group spirit) with 'moral' (a lesson about right and wrong).

Shakeira Fairfax, mother of 25-year-old sailor Jada Fairfax, told Reuters there had been moments over the past few months when "morale was low".

BBC News· 3 Sept 2026

Borrowed from French morale.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated