What does mores mean?
Mores are the customary practices, traditions, and informal standards that govern behavior within a society or group. The word is especially useful when describing expectations that are passed down through generations rather than written into law, such as manners of hospitality, forms of dress, or conventions about family life. Because mores often carry a moral dimension, the term can suggest the unwritten rules by which a community judges appropriate conduct. It is usually used in the plural and has a formal, analytical tone. In literary and historical writing, it may refer more broadly to the characteristic customs of a people or period, as when a writer examines the mores of an ancient culture. Mores should not be confused with morale, which means the shared confidence and spirit of a group rather than its customary practices.
plural nounThe customary practices, conventions, and traditional ways of behavior of a particular society or group. The term often refers to informal moral or social standards that influence how people behave.
- Social customs, traditions, and conventions that shape the behavior of a society or group.
- Informal moral standards or expectations governing conduct.
"The custom of leaving gifts on birthdays is one of the social mores that many families observe."
"In some cultures, the manners and mores of formal hospitality include offering food before asking a guest's preferences."
"The novel examines the rigid mores of a small community and the individuals who challenge them."
Mores is already plural; the singular form is mor.
"Each generation preserves some of the mores of the community while adapting others."
The word mores comes from the same Latin root as moral: both concern what a community regards as right and proper.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of mores
The word entered English in the early 16th century from Latin mores, the plural form of mos, meaning “custom,” “practice,” or “usage.” Latin mos also contributed to words such as moral, morality, and immoral, all of which reflect the idea of established behavior or standards of right and wrong. The English sense developed from general customs to include the social and moral conventions associated with a community.
Related word forms
How mores is actually used
Usually plural and often somewhat formal. It is commonly used in discussions of social behavior, cultural traditions, and inherited conventions.
Easily confused with mores
Mores are social customs or conventions, whereas morale is the collective confidence and spirit of a group.
Mores is the plural of mor and means customs or conventions; more means a greater amount or degree.