immoral
UK[ɪˈmɒrəl]US[ɪˈmɔːrəl]
adj
Not conforming to accepted standards of morality; morally wrong.
Morpheme Breakdown
im
moral
im
not
moral
relating to principles of right and wrong
Etymology
The word 'immoral' is a direct negation formed in English by combining the Latin-derived negative prefix 'im-' with the adjective 'moral'. Its core component, 'moral', traces back to the Latin moralis, a term coined by Cicero to translate the Greek ēthikos (ethical), from mos meaning "custom" or "proper behavior of a person in society". The prefix 'im-', a variant of 'in-', solidly establishes the meaning of opposition or absence. Thus, the literal construction "not moral" precisely captures the modern abstract sense of contravening established ethical principles, framing immorality as a deviation from societal customs of right conduct.
Analysis
Structure: im (not) + moral (relating to principles of right and wrong)
- im: A Latin-origin prefix meaning "not" or "without". It is an assimilated form of 'in-' used before roots beginning with 'm', 'p', or 'b'.
- moral: From Latin moralis, meaning "pertaining to manners or character", derived from mos (plural mores), meaning "custom, habit, manner".
Examples
Lying to gain an advantage is widely considered immoral behavior.
The character in the novel is torn between his desires and his fear of acting immorally.
The documentary explored the immoral practices within the industry.