morale

noun

mo·​rale mə-ˈral How to pronounce morale (audio)
1
: moral principles, teachings, or conduct
2
a
: the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or tasks at hand
The team's morale is high.
b
: a sense of common purpose with respect to a group : esprit de corps
The ship's morale improved after two days of shore leave.
3
: the level of individual psychological well-being based on such factors as a sense of purpose and confidence in the future
The failure of his play did not affect his morale.

Examples of morale in a Sentence

The team is playing well and their morale is high. The President's speech boosted the morale of the troops.
Recent Examples on the Web The city’s Police Department was depleted of officers and morale. Rick Rojas, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Zelensky has long tried to control public messaging about the state of the war to preserve public morale. Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 Snowball Method This approach involves cardholders paying down the smaller balances in full, usually in an attempt to build morale toward tackling bigger debts in the future. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 29 Feb. 2024 This step is essential for creating a positive work environment that boosts employee morale and supports effective integration. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The rumor came from pro-Russia online operatives as part of an aggressive effort to harm Ukrainian morale, according to cybersecurity firm Mandiant. Tara Sonenshine, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2024 For example, the excitement of being on Mars might boost morale, while boredom during the return may sink it. Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 Despite battlefield successes, the colder months brought a new danger when Moscow’s air force began pummelling the country’s energy network, an attempt to drain morale. Sophie Tanno, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024 Communicate With Employees One implication from a staffing perspective is the potential impact on employee morale and retention. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'morale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1, from French, from feminine of moral, adjective; in other senses, modification of French moral morale, from moral, adjective

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of morale was in 1752

Dictionary Entries Near morale

Cite this Entry

“Morale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morale. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

morale

noun
mo·​rale mə-ˈral How to pronounce morale (audio)
: the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, spirit, or loyalty) of an individual or a group with regard to a task or goal to be accomplished

More from Merriam-Webster on morale

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