noun
Uncommon
morale
muh-RAHL
Morale (noun) means the overall confidence, enthusiasm, and spirit of a person or group. Example: “The team's morale improved after their first win.”
noun
1
The overall confidence, enthusiasm, and spirit of a person or group.
"Morale is an important quality in soldiers. With good morale they'll charge into a hail of bullets; without it they won't even cross a street."
"The team's morale improved after their first win."
"Low staff morale was hurting productivity."
"A morale-boosting exercise"
"A kind speech from the manager did wonders for the morale of the whole department."
"After the layoffs, morale was at an all time low; the staff were so dispirited nothing was getting done."
How to use morale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow confident and motivated a person or group feels.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "moral" (about right and wrong) — morale is about spirit and confidence.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
boost morale
team morale
low morale
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Word forms
- Plural
- morales
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The team's _____ improved after their first win.
Etymology
Borrowed from French morale, ultimately from the same Latin root as "moral," but developing its own separate meaning in French.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for morale
See all rhymes for morale →Frequently asked questions
What does “morale” mean?
The word “morale” means the overall confidence, enthusiasm, and spirit of a person or group. In plain terms, how confident and motivated a person or group feels.
How do you pronounce “morale”?
“Morale” is pronounced muh-RAHL (/məˈɹæl/ in IPA).
How do you use “morale” in a sentence?
Here is “morale” used in a sentence: “The team's morale improved after their first win.”
What part of speech is “morale”?
“Morale” is a noun.
Where does the word “morale” come from?
The word “morale” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French morale, ultimately from the same Latin root as "moral," but developing its own separate meaning in French.
Is “morale” a common word?
“Morale” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between morale and mood?
Morale refers to the overall confidence, enthusiasm, and spirit of a person or group, often in a work, team, or military context, while mood describes a more personal and temporary emotional state. Morale is typically discussed at a group level, such as 'team morale,' whereas mood is usually individual.
What does it mean to boost morale?
Boosting morale means taking action to increase a group's overall confidence, enthusiasm, and spirit, such as through recognition, support, or improved conditions. It is commonly discussed in workplace and team-management contexts.
Is morale used mainly for groups or can it describe one person?
While morale is most often used to describe the collective spirit of a group, such as employees or soldiers, it can also refer to an individual's overall confidence and enthusiasm. Group usage, however, is far more common.
