Moral vs Morale | Difference & Meaning

If a boss has instilled good morale in their staff, it means there is a strong team spirit among their employees. But if a boss has good morals, it means they have strong ethical principles.

  • Morale (spelled with an “e”) is a noun referring to the level of enthusiasm, confidence and satisfaction felt by a person or group (e.g., “The victory boosted morale among the soldiers”).
  • Moral (spelled without “e”) is an adjective relating to beliefs about right and wrong meaning “ethical,” “honest,” “correct,” or “fair” (e.g., “She told the truth because it was the moral thing to do”).
  • Moral can also be used as a noun meaning “lesson,” “message,” or “principle” (e.g., “the moral of the story”) or—when used in the plural—“beliefs or principles about what is right and wrong or correct behavior” (e.g., “The school had a reputation for instilling strong morals and discipline”).
  • Moral is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable but morale is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable .
Moral vs moral examples
Moral in a sentence Morale in a sentence
The decision was taken for political rather than moral reasons. [Adjective] The merger of the two companies has had a negative effect on morale. [Noun]
What was the moral of the story? [Noun] Team morale is very high. [Noun]
At that time, the profession of acting was associated with decadence and loose morals. [Noun] Cancelling the general’s visit to the front line would have been bad for morale. [Noun]

Moral definition

If you describe something as moral, it means that it aligns with or relates to correct, fair, or just behavior. The adjective “moral” frequently combines with the nouns “issue,” “obligation,” “responsibility,” and “authority.”

Moral (adjective) in a sentence examples
The novel explores complex choices surrounding a challenging moral issue.

We have a moral responsibility to protect the environment for future generations.

The leader of the opposition party said that the minister’s involvement in the scandal means he “lacks the moral authority required for the office.”

A moral is a fundamental “lesson,” “teaching,” or “principle” that can be learned or derived from a story, experience, or series of events.

Moral (noun) in a sentence examples
So, the moral of the story is that it’s okay to enjoy today, but you also have to prepare for tomorrow.

There is a clear moral at the core of all of these folk tales.

Morals definition

Your morals (plural) are your sense of what is right and wrong. If you say someone has “no morals,” you are accusing them of not caring much about ethical principles, right and wrong, or standards of good behavior.

Morals (plural noun) in a sentence examples
The book’s protagonist clearly reflects the morals of the author’s father, a man known for his deep religious faith.

He is initially presented as a character with no morals or compassion but redeems himself in the final act.

Morale meaning

The morale of a person or group of people is the amount of confidence, enthusiasm, and satisfaction they feel, especially in relation to their job. The noun “moral” frequently combines with the verbs “damage,” “affect,” “undermine,” “improve,” “boost,” and “lift.”

Morale (noun) in a sentence examples
The rumors about the closure of the factory has affected morale among employees.

The good news about the factory expansion was a boost to morale.

Moral turpitude meaning

The compound noun moral turpitude describes an act or behavior that is extremely bad according to generally accepted standards of what is right and wrong in society. In US law, “moral turpitude” is also a legal concept relating to crimes involving a severe, and often shocking, breach of duties or responsibilities toward society.

Moral turpitude in a sentence examples
The movie portrays a city consumed by crime, corruption, and moral turpitude.

He was denied entry to the United States on the grounds of moral turpitude in connection with convictions involving fraud.

Moral support meaning

If you give someone moral support, it means you provide them with positive emotional encouragement. For example, this could involve encouraging them to achieve a difficult goal or reassuring them that they can handle a challenging situation.

Moral support in a sentence examples
My friend came with me to the interview for moral support.

Since announcing her resignation, she has received messages of moral support from all over the country.

Moral hazard definition

Moral hazard is an economic concept describing situations where a person or company has an incentive to act in a financially irresponsible way because they know that the negative consequences of their actions will be partially or fully borne by another party such as a government or insurer.

For instance, a “moral hazard” can occur in the banking sector if banks are incentivized to take excessive risks because they believe the government will always protect them from bankruptcy.

Moral hazard in a sentence examples
He claims health care that is free at the point of delivery creates moral hazard by encouraging overuse of medical services and reducing incentives to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Deductibles on auto insurance claims ensure that policyholders share some of the financial risk and therefore reduce moral hazard.

Moral compass meaning

Moral compass is a figurative phrase that describes the sense of right and wrong that guides a person in their decision making or when evaluating what is correct behavior.

Moral compass in a sentence examples
This unethical decision demonstrates a total lack of moral compass.

Her determination, integrity, and strong moral compass have been key to her success.

Frequently asked questions about moral vs morale

What does moral quandary mean?

A moral quandary is a very difficult situation in which you must choose between options that conflict based on your principles of right and wrong (e.g., “The protagonist is in a moral quandary, faced with a decision about whether to stay loyal to her friend or help an innocent stranger”).

On a related note, if you’re not sure whether moral or morale is the word you need, remember that “morale” is always a noun.

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you to find alternative ways of expressing “moral quandary” in your specific context.

What does moral code mean?

A moral code comprises the implicitly understood or explicitly stated rules, values, and principles that guide the behavior of an individual or group (e.g., “The community’s moral code emphasizes resolving disputes internally rather than involving the authorities”).

On a related note, if you can’t decide whether the word you need is moral or morale, remember that you can only use “morale” as a noun.

You can use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find alternative ways of expressing “moral code” in your specific context.

What does moral decay mean?

Moral decay is a pejorative term referring to a perceived gradual weakening of standards of right and wrong, particularly within a society (e.g., “The party’s leader said he would ‘fight against the moral decay that lies at the heart of the country’s problems’”).

On a related note, if you’re unsure whether the correct word is moral or morale, bear in mind that you can only use “morale” as a noun.

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser will help you to find alternative ways of expressing “moral decay” that fit the context of your specific text.

What is a synonym for moral?

Synonyms for the adjective moral include:

  • Ethical
  • Principled
  • Virtuous
  • Correct
  • Fair

Synonyms for the noun moral include:

Synonyms for the plural noun morals include:

  • Principles
  • Ethics
  • Values
  • Beliefs
  • Standards

On a related note, if you’re having difficulty deciding if moral or morale is the correct spelling, remember that if it’s functioning as an adjective in your sentence, it has to be “moral” because “morale” is always a noun.

Why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find the best synonym for “moral” in your specific context?

What does morality mean?

Morality can refer to the ideas held by an individual, group, or society about what is right and wrong (e.g., “He has a very traditional morality”) as well as the perceived quality or acceptability of behavior or actions in relation to these ideas (e.g., “The morality of the decision was highly questionable”).

On a related note, if you’re finding it tricky to decide if moral or morale is the word you need, remember that you can only use “morale” as a noun.

Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use the word “morality” correctly in your specific context?

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Tom Challenger, BA

Tom holds a teaching diploma and is an experienced English language teacher, teacher trainer, and translator. He has taught university courses and worked as a teacher trainer on Cambridge CELTA courses.