Word
morality
Phoneticsmoral·i·ty
US/mɝˈæɫəti/
UK/mɒɹˈælɪti/
In Japanese
morals; morality
今日は道徳の観点からこの問題について討論しようと思います。
Today we are going to discuss this problem in terms of morality. Tatoeba
morality; moral principles
morals; morality; ethics
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definitions
01right and wrong
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the belief that some types of behaviour are right and good and others are wrong.
n. the abstract quality of being in accord with principles of right conduct; the distinction between good and evil.
“The judge questioned the morality of the company's decision to hide the truth.”
“Philosophers have long debated whether morality is an inherent human trait or a construct developed through social necessity.”
Usage
uncountable in this sense
Antonyms
02a system of values
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a particular set of rules or values that a group of people follow.
n. a specific system of values and principles of conduct, especially one held by a particular society or religion.
“Every culture has its own morality regarding family and duty.”
“The book explores how Victorian morality influenced the strict social laws of the nineteenth century.”
Usage
countable in this sense
Synonyms
03theatre
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Theater Archaic · Technical
n. a type of play from the Middle Ages that teaches a lesson about being good.
n. a drama of the 15th and 16th centuries using allegorical characters to illustrate moral lessons.
“In school, we studied a famous morality play where characters represented things like 'Greed' and 'Kindness'.”
“The Everyman is perhaps the most enduring example of a medieval morality, depicting the protagonist's journey toward spiritual reckoning.”
Usage
often used as 'morality play'
Teaching tip
This is a very specific historical term; students will likely only encounter it in literature or history classes.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “morality” in context.
Verb
01. dictate morality
“The government should not attempt to dictate morality to its citizens through legislation.”
verb + noun
02. question the morality of the decision
“Many citizens began to question the morality of the decision to go to war.”
verb + noun + of + noun
03. uphold public morality
“The committee was established to uphold public morality in broadcasting.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. conventional morality
“The artist's work was a direct challenge to the conventional morality of the Victorian era.”
adj + noun
05. objective morality
“Philosophers have long debated whether objective morality exists independently of human culture.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. decline in morality
“Social critics often lament what they perceive as a steady decline in morality among the youth.”
noun + prep + noun
07. sense of morality
“Her strong sense of morality prevented her from accepting the bribe.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. on grounds of morality
“The film was banned on grounds of morality and public decency.”
prep + noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“My own research on how people navigate competing moral demands suggests that one potential explanation lies in a critical tension that is generated by morality itself.” “You’re not a criminal but a victim, bound hand and foot by that outmoded morality called Bushido ,” the samurai code of conduct.” Etymology
From Anglo-Norman moralité, Middle French moralité, from Late Latin mōrālitās (“manner, characteristic, character”), from Latin mōrālis (“relating to manners or morals”), from mōs (“manner, custom”). equivalent to moral + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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