Moral means related to questions of right and wrong, good and bad behavior. When you face a moral choice, you're deciding between what's right and what's wrong, like whether to tell the truth even when it might get you in trouble, or whether to help someone who needs it.

A person's morals are their beliefs about how people should act. Your morals might tell you to keep promises, treat others fairly, and take responsibility for your mistakes. Different people sometimes have different morals about specific situations, but most people agree on basics like honesty, fairness, and kindness.

The word also describes stories that teach lessons. A moral tale might show how greed leads to trouble or how courage helps overcome fear. Aesop's fables always end with a moral, a lesson about how to live well. When someone says “the moral of the story,” they mean the main lesson you're supposed to learn.

Moral differs from legal. Something can be legal but still feel morally wrong, or illegal but morally right. Following your conscience about right and wrong is what makes something a moral decision, whether or not there's a rule or law about it.

When someone acts morally, they're doing what they believe is right. A moral person tries to do good and avoid harm, even when no one's watching.