# morale

/mɝˈæɫ/ (US) · /məɹˈæl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/morale
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

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

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

## Examples

- The team's morale is high after their big win.
- The manager organized a lunch to boost morale after the staff had worked several long weekends in a row.
- Sustaining high morale during a prolonged corporate restructuring requires transparent communication and a clear sense of purpose from the executive leadership team.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The story has a good morale." but "The story has a good moral." — Learners often confuse 'morale' (group spirit) with 'moral' (a lesson about right and wrong).

## Usage notes

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

---

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.