The word "immoral" has an interesting spelling. It is pronounced as /ɪˈmɒrəl/ and is made up of the prefix "im-", meaning "not", and the root word "moral". The "im-" prefix usually means "not", but in some cases, like this one, it can also mean "opposite of". The "moral" part of the word comes from the Latin word "moralis", meaning "pertaining to morals or character". Therefore, when you spell "immoral", you combine these two parts to mean "not moral" or "opposite of moral".
Immoral, as an adjective, is used to describe behavior, actions, or attitudes that are considered morally wrong or unacceptable according to established standards or principles of good and evil, right and wrong, or proper and improper conduct. It refers to conduct that goes against the commonly accepted ethical norms, values, or principles of a particular society, culture, or religion.
An immoral act or behavior is one that is deemed to be morally depraved, wicked, unethical, or unlawful. It often involves actions that cause harm, suffering, or distress to others, or displays a disregard for the rights, well-being, or dignity of others. Immoral behavior can include acts such as lying, cheating, stealing, fraud, physical or psychological harm, exploitation, corruption, dishonesty, and betrayal.
The judgment of what is morally immoral can vary among cultures, religions, or individuals. What may be considered as immoral in one society or cultural context may not necessarily be deemed immoral in another. However, there are some universal ethical principles, like respect for human life, honesty, fairness, and empathy, that are recognized across various cultures and religions, and actions that violate these principles can generally be categorized as immoral.
The term 'immoral' is often used in contrast to 'moral,' which refers to behavior and actions that are considered to be good, righteous, virtuous, or in accordance with ethical principles. It serves as a way to distinguish between desirable and undesirable conduct and helps individuals and societies establish guidelines for what is morally acceptable.
Contrary to the divine law; vicious; wicked or unjust.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "immoral" is derived from the Latin word "immoralis", which is a combination of two Latin words: "in-" meaning "not" or "without", and "moralis" meaning "moral". Therefore, the etymology of "immoral" suggests that it signifies something or someone lacking moral principles or behaving inappropriately in terms of ethical standards.