/ ˈmɒrəl; NAmE ˈmɔːr-; ˈmɑːr-/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ only before noun ] concerned with principles of right and wrong behaviour :
a moral issue / dilemma / question
traditional moral values
a decline in moral standards
moral philosophy
a deeply religious man with a highly developed moral sense
The newspapers were full of moral outrage at the weakness of other countries.
2.
[ only before noun ] based on your own sense of what is right and fair, not on legal rights or duties
SYN ethical :
moral responsibility / duty
Governments have at least a moral obligation to answer these questions.
( BrE )
The job was to call on all her diplomatic skills and moral courage (= the courage to do what you think is right) .
3.
following the standards of behaviour considered acceptable and right by most people
SYN good , honourable :
He led a very moral life.
a very moral person
—compare amoral , immoral
4.
[ only before noun ] able to understand the difference between right and wrong :
Children are not naturally moral beings.
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IDIOMS
- take, claim, seize, etc. the moral high ground
■ noun
1.
morals [ pl. ] standards or principles of good behaviour, especially in matters of sexual relationships :
Young people these days have no morals.
The play was considered an affront to public morals .
( old-fashioned )
a woman of loose morals (= with a low standard of sexual behaviour)
2.
[ C ] a practical lesson that a story, an event or an experience teaches you :
And the moral is that crime doesn't pay.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin moralis , from mos , mor- custom, (plural) mores morals. As a noun the word was first used to translate Latin Moralia , the title of St Gregory the Great's moral exposition of the Book of Job, and was later applied to the works of various classical writers.