How to Use Moral vs. Morale

August 6, 2025

5 min read

By Yash, D

Morale (noun) refers to the attitude or spirit a person or a group has collectively. Moral is usually an adjective that describes right or wrong conduct.

Writing Tips

Moral and morale sound nearly the same, and are only a single letter apart. Still, they are not the same. Use these words accordingly.

Morale (noun) refers to “the amount of confidence and enthusiasm, etc. that a person or a group has at a particular time”.

Moral is mainly an adjective, and describes being “connected with principles of right and wrong behaviour”. In its noun form, morals refers to “standards or principles of good behaviour”.

“Morale” / “Moral”, used in sentences

Word choice	Example sentences
moral / morale
morale	Morale amongst the players is very high at the moment. Staff are suffering from low morale. Another win would be good for the team’s morale.
moral (noun)	Young people these days have no morals. The play was considered an affront to public morals. The question is one of manners rather than morals.
moral (adjective)	The basic moral philosophies of most world religions are remarkably similar. He was a deeply religious man with a highly developed moral sense. The newspapers were full of moral outrage at the weakness of other countries.

Synonyms, word forms & nearby words

Synonyms for moral

principle ethics virtue just honest right good code

Synonyms for morale

mood attitude spirit vibe temper team spirit outlook perspective

Word origin (of morale/moral)

Mid-14c., “associated with or characterized by right behavior,” also “associated with or concerning conduct or moral principles” (good or bad), from Old French moral (14c.) and directly from Latin moralis “proper behavior of a person in society”.

1752, "moral principles or practice," from French morale "morality, good conduct," from fem. of Old French moral "moral".

Practice: Moral vs. morale

FAQs

What does morale mean?
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Morale is a noun referring to “the amount of confidence and enthusiasm, etc. that a person or a group has at a particular time.” Example: The team’s morale is high.

What does moral mean (adjective)?
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Moral is mainly an adjective. It describes something “connected with principles of right and wrong behaviour.” An example is “a highly developed moral sense.”

How is “moral” used as a noun?
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In its noun form, “morals” (plural) refers to “standards or principles of good behaviour.” Examples include “Young people these days have no morals” or “public morals.”

What is a common mistake with these words?
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A common error is using “moral” incorrectly when referring to confidence or enthusiasm, which is the meaning of “morale.” For instance, don’t say “employee moral,” but “employee.

How can I remember the difference?
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Associating “morale” with “moral” plus an ‘e’. Think of the ‘e’ for “enthusiasm.” High morale means high enthusiasm, which helps distinguish it from “moral” meaning right/wrong.

Yash, D. "How to Use Moral vs. Morale." Grammarflex, Sep 24, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/moral-vs-morale/.

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