Word

morality

noun C1

/məˈɹælɪti/

Meanings

noun

principles or beliefs about what is right and wrong behavior

noun

the level of moral behavior shown by a person or group

Definition

Morality is the set of principles about what is right and wrong behavior.

Morality refers to the standards and values a person or society uses to judge actions as right or wrong. It guides choices about fairness, harm, honesty, and responsibility. Morality can be influenced by culture, religion, philosophy, and personal experience, and it may vary across communities and time periods.

Examples

As a journalist, I often reflect on morality when deciding how much detail to publish about private lives.
In your essay, you argue that morality should be grounded in empathy rather than fear of punishment.
He questioned the morality of the policy after seeing how it affected families in his neighborhood.
She teaches morality through classroom discussions about fairness, responsibility, and the consequences of choices.
They debated morality late into the night, yet still respected each other’s disagreements.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse morality (principles of right and wrong) with morals (individual lessons or standards) and use them interchangeably in contexts where only one fits.