Is morality the same as ethics?

They are close, but morality is more about right and wrong beliefs. Ethics often sounds more like rules or a system.

Is morality a formal word?

Yes. It is common in academic, literary, and serious discussion.

Can I use morality for one person?

Yes. You can talk about a person's morality or moral beliefs.

← Dictionary

morality

/məˈræl.ə.ti/

IELTSAcademic

noun

Morality is a set of ideas about what is right and wrong. It can also mean a person's or society's standards of good behavior.

The movie questions modern morality.
She has strong personal morality.
His morality shaped his choices.

Adinary Nuance

Morality is broader than honesty, because it covers right and wrong in general. It is also more abstract than ethics, which often sounds more like a system or study of moral rules. Use morality when you mean a person's values, or society's idea of good conduct.

In other languages

Vietnamese: đạo đức
Spanish: moralidad
Chinese: 道德
Japanese: 道徳
Korean: 도덕

Etymology

Morality comes from Latin moralitas, from moralis, meaning 'relating to manners or character'. It entered English in the late Middle Ages.

Common phrases

personal moralitypublic moralitymoral morality

Synonyms

ethics virtue principles

Related words

moral immorality decency values

Frequently asked questions

Is morality the same as ethics?: They are close, but morality is more about right and wrong beliefs. Ethics often sounds more like rules or a system.
Is morality a formal word?: Yes. It is common in academic, literary, and serious discussion.
Can I use morality for one person?: Yes. You can talk about a person's morality or moral beliefs.