non-moral
|non-mor-al|
🇺🇸
/nɑnˈmɔrəl/
🇬🇧
/nɒnˈmɒrəl/
not related to right and wrong
Etymology
'non-' originates from Latin 'non' meaning 'not', combined with 'moral', which comes from French 'moral' and Latin 'moralis' (from 'mos' meaning 'custom, manner').
'moral' entered English via Old French 'moral' from Latin 'moralis'; the negative prefix 'non-' was productively attached in Modern English to form compounds like 'non-moral'.
Originally the parts meant 'not' + 'relating to custom/behavior'; over time 'non-moral' has come to mean either 'not pertaining to moral judgment' or 'lacking moral concern' depending on context.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not relating to or involving questions of morality; neutral with respect to right and wrong.
The committee's decision was based on technical and practical considerations and was deliberately non-moral.
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Adjective 2
not moral in character; lacking moral qualities or concern for morality (close to 'amoral' or 'immoral' depending on context).
His actions were described as non-moral rather than immoral: he simply never considered the ethical implications.
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Last updated: 2025/11/07 19:08