Amoral

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /eɪˈmɒɹ.əl/

Definitions

1. Lacking any sense of morality, this term describes a state where ethical considerations do not influence behavior or decisions
2. This concept indicates an absence of moral awareness or concern, portraying a moral indifference in actions or choices
3. Showing no regard for right or wrong in behavior or thought

Etymology: The "a-" here is the Ancient Greek negating prefix, meaning "not," and it attached itself to an English word that had already travelled a long way. "Moral" comes from Latin "mōrālis," formed from "mōs" (custom, habit, way of behaving), and it reached English through Old French "moral" and then Middle English. So "amoral" literally means "not concerned with custom or conduct," which is a subtly different thing from "immoral." That distinction is the heart of the word. "Immoral" judges behaviour as wrong, while "amoral" describes someone or something outside the framework of right and wrong altogether, such as a force of nature or a person who simply does not register moral questions. English formed it by pairing the Greek prefix with a Latin-derived base, a combination that became common in modern English vocabulary.

Synonyms: unethical, immoral

Antonyms: moral, ethical