moral
♦ mor|al /m'ɒrəl, AM m'ɔːr-/ (morals)
1 [N-PLURAL]
Morals are principles and beliefs concerning right and wrong behaviour.
...Western ideas and morals...
They have no morals.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Moral means relating to beliefs about what is right or wrong.
She describes her own moral dilemma in making the film.
...matters of church doctrine and moral teaching.
= ethical
● morally [ADV] ADV adj/adv, ADV after v, ADV with cl
When, if ever, is it morally justifiable to allow a patient to die?...
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
Moral courage or duty is based on what you believe is right or acceptable, rather than on what the law says should be done.
The Government had a moral, if not a legal duty to pay compensation.
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A moral person behaves in a way that is believed by most people to be good and right.
The people who will be on the committee are moral, cultured, competent people.
= ethical
● morally [ADV] ADV with v
Art is not there to improve you morally.
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
If you give someone moral support, you encourage them in what they are doing by expressing approval.
Moral as well as financial support was what the West should provide.
6 [N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
The moral of a story or event is what you learn from it about how you should or should not behave.
I think the moral of the story is let the buyer beware...
= message
7
moral victory: see victorymor|al fi|bre
in AM, use moral fiber
[N-UNCOUNT]
Moral fibre is the quality of being determined to do what you think is right.
...a man of stern moral fibre.mor|al ma|jor|ity
[N-SING-COLL; N-PROPER-COLL] the N
If there is a large group in society that holds strong, conservative opinions on matters of morality and religion, you can refer to these people as the moral majority. In the United States, there is an organized group called the Moral Majority.
...unless the writers begin to write decent comedy and stop pandering to the moral majority.
1 [N-PLURAL]
Morals are principles and beliefs concerning right and wrong behaviour.
...Western ideas and morals...
They have no morals.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Moral means relating to beliefs about what is right or wrong.
She describes her own moral dilemma in making the film.
...matters of church doctrine and moral teaching.
= ethical
● morally [ADV] ADV adj/adv, ADV after v, ADV with cl
When, if ever, is it morally justifiable to allow a patient to die?...
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
Moral courage or duty is based on what you believe is right or acceptable, rather than on what the law says should be done.
The Government had a moral, if not a legal duty to pay compensation.
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A moral person behaves in a way that is believed by most people to be good and right.
The people who will be on the committee are moral, cultured, competent people.
= ethical
● morally [ADV] ADV with v
Art is not there to improve you morally.
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
If you give someone moral support, you encourage them in what they are doing by expressing approval.
Moral as well as financial support was what the West should provide.
6 [N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
The moral of a story or event is what you learn from it about how you should or should not behave.
I think the moral of the story is let the buyer beware...
= message
7
moral victory: see victorymor|al fi|bre
in AM, use moral fiber
[N-UNCOUNT]
Moral fibre is the quality of being determined to do what you think is right.
...a man of stern moral fibre.mor|al ma|jor|ity
[N-SING-COLL; N-PROPER-COLL] the N
If there is a large group in society that holds strong, conservative opinions on matters of morality and religion, you can refer to these people as the moral majority. In the United States, there is an organized group called the Moral Majority.
...unless the writers begin to write decent comedy and stop pandering to the moral majority.