Meaning & use
moral failure
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
A serious failure to act in accordance with accepted moral principles or one's own ethical standards.
Grammar: Can be used countably for a specific instance ('a moral failure') or uncountably for the general concept ('moral failure is...').
Patterns
- a moral failure
- moral failure of something
- moral failure to do something
The scandal was widely seen as a moral failure of the entire leadership.
His refusal to help was a moral failure that haunted him for years.
The report described the neglect of the poor as a profound moral failure.
nouncountabledisapproving
A person who is considered to have failed to meet ethical standards.
Grammar: Used to describe a person, often in a judgmental way.
Patterns
- a moral failure
- considered a moral failure
After the cover-up, he was branded a moral failure by the public.
She felt like a moral failure for not speaking up.
Word forms
| plural | moral failures |
|---|
Common combinations
- a complete moral failure
- The cover-up was a complete moral failure.
- a profound moral failure
- Many saw the policy as a profound moral failure.
- a moral failure of leadership
- The crisis revealed a moral failure of leadership.
- admit a moral failure
- He finally admitted his moral failure.
- a sense of moral failure
- She was left with a deep sense of moral failure.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ethical lapse
- Focuses on a single mistake rather than a broad failure of character.
- wrongdoing
- Refers to an illegal or immoral act, often more concrete than 'moral failure'.
- sin
- Has a religious tone; 'moral failure' is used in secular contexts.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: moral failure or mortal failure?
moral failure vs mortal failure
Not a standard phrase; 'mortal' means causing death, while 'moral' relates to ethics.
Practice
The politician's acceptance of bribes was seen as a ______.
Choose one answer.
'Moral failure' is the correct noun phrase for an ethical lapse. 'Moral fail' is not standard, 'morale failure' refers to a loss of confidence, and 'mortal failure' is not a common expression.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “moral failure”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.