immoral

[ ih-mawr-uhl, ih-mor- ]

adjective

1. violating moral principles; not conforming to the patterns of conduct usually accepted or established as consistent with principles of personal and social ethics.
2. licentious or lascivious.

immoral

/ ɪˈmɒrəl /

adjective

1. transgressing accepted moral rules; corrupt
2. sexually dissolute; profligate or promiscuous
3. unscrupulous or unethical

   immoral trading

4. tending to corrupt or resulting from corruption

   an immoral film

   immoral earnings

Derived Forms

• imˈmorally, adverb

Other Word Forms

• im·moral·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of immoral¹

First recorded in 1650–60; im- ² + moral

Synonym Study

Immoral, abandoned, depraved describe one who makes no attempt to curb self-indulgence. Immoral, referring to conduct, applies to one who acts contrary to or does not obey or conform to standards of morality; it may also mean licentious and perhaps dissipated. Abandoned, referring to condition, applies to one hopelessly, and usually passively, sunk in wickedness and unrestrained appetites. Depraved, referring to character, applies to one who voluntarily seeks evil and viciousness. Immoral, amoral, nonmoral, and unmoral are sometimes confused with one another. Immoral means not moral and connotes evil or licentious behavior. Amoral, nonmoral, and unmoral, virtually synonymous although the first is by far the most common form, mean utterly lacking in morals (either good or bad), neither moral nor immoral. However, since, in some contexts, there is a stigma implicit in a complete lack of morals, being amoral, nonmoral, or unmoral is sometimes considered just as reprehensible as being immoral.

Example Sentences

The music was loud and fast, with pummeling guitar riffs that made the idea of a fourth chord seem like an immoral extravagance.

From Los Angeles Times

What makes them tick, and can even the seemingly immoral be changed for the good?

From Salon

“It is not only immoral but also potentially in contradiction with federal law for California schools to hide crucial information about a student’s well-being from parents and guardians.”

From Los Angeles Times

Nina said she was happy to see people criticising the trend, which she called "immoral and insensitive".

From BBC

The Disability Benefits Consortium, which represents more than 100 charities and organisations, said: "These immoral and devastating benefits cuts will push more disabled people into poverty, and worsen people's health."

From BBC

Related Words

• abandoned
• debauched
• lascivious
• libertine
• licentious
• promiscuous