mor·al / ˈmôrəl; ˈmär-/ • adj. concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character: the moral dimensions of medical intervention a moral judgment. ∎  concerned with or adhering to the code of interpersonal behavior that is considered right or acceptable in a particular society: an individual's ambitions may get out of step with the general moral code. ∎  holding or manifesting high principles for proper conduct: he is a caring, efficient, moral man. ∎  derived from or based on ethical principles or a sense of these: the moral obligation of society to do something about the inner city's problems. ∎  examining the nature of ethics and the foundations of good and bad character and conduct: moral philosophers.• n. 1. a lesson, esp. one concerning what is right or prudent, that can be derived from a story, a piece of information, or an experience: the moral of this story was that one must see the beauty in what one has.2. (morals) a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do: the corruption of public morals. ∎  standards of behavior that are considered good or acceptable: they believe addicts have no morals and cannot be trusted.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 subsequently applied to the works of various classical writers.