moral majority: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, journalistic, political analysis. Often capitalised when referring to the specific organisation.
Quick answer
What does “moral majority” mean?
A large group of people in a society whose views on social and political issues are believed to be based on traditional moral or religious values, especially when seen as a collective political force.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large group of people in a society whose views on social and political issues are believed to be based on traditional moral or religious values, especially when seen as a collective political force.
A perceived or self-identified silent majority in a population who hold conservative, often Christian, views on topics like family, sexuality, and public policy. Historically, it is strongly associated with a specific US political movement of the late 20th century founded by Reverend Jerry Falwell, which sought to mobilise conservative Christians.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and is primarily used in an American socio-political context. In British English, it is almost exclusively used in analysis of US politics or as a borrowed term for similar phenomena, often with explicit reference to the US model.
Connotations
In AmE: Strong, immediate association with the late-1970s/1980s political movement and evangelical Christian activism. In BrE: More abstract, used as a conceptual label for any conservative religious voting bloc, sometimes with a slight tone of anthropological observation.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English. In British English, it appears mainly in political commentary, history, or sociology texts.
Grammar
How to Use “moral majority” in a Sentence
The + Moral Majority + verb (e.g., emerged, advocated, declined)Politician + verb + the Moral Majority (e.g., courted, opposed, addressed)Among/For + the moral majorityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “moral majority” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Politicians are often accused of moral-majoritying their policies to win votes.
- (Note: 'to moral-majority' as a verb is extremely rare and non-standard, used here for illustrative completeness)
American English
- The candidate sought to moral-majority the electorate, focusing on traditional family values. (Rare/derived use)
adverb
British English
- The policy was framed moral-majority-ly, appealing to conservative instincts. (Highly non-standard)
American English
- He argued moral-majority-style for the legislation. (Colloquial and non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He dismissed the proposal as mere moral-majority rhetoric.
American English
- The senator took a strong Moral Majority stance on the issue.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in analyses of consumer behaviour or marketing strategies targeting conservative demographics.
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, history, and religious studies papers analysing US politics, social movements, and the intersection of religion and politics.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation. Might be used in political discussions, often with historical reference.
Technical
Used as a proper noun for the specific historical organisation; as a common noun in sociopolitical analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “moral majority”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “moral majority”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moral majority”
- Using it to mean 'most people who are morally good'. *Incorrect: 'The moral majority of people help others.'
- Using lowercase when referring specifically to the US organisation. *Incorrect: 'The moral majority was founded in 1979.' (Should be 'Moral Majority').
- Assuming it is a neutral, descriptive term rather than a politically loaded one.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The term is often a rhetorical claim or self-identification. The group it describes may or may not constitute a numerical majority of the population; its power comes from its cohesion and activism, not just its size.
It depends on the speaker's perspective. Supporters of the associated views might use it positively to claim broad support. Critics often use it sceptically or pejoratively to question the claim of representing the majority or to criticise the ideology. Neutral academic use is descriptive.
'Silent majority,' popularised by Richard Nixon, refers more broadly to a presumed mass of moderate, law-abiding citizens who do not loudly protest. 'Moral Majority' is more specific, implying an active, religiously-informed conservative political stance. The Moral Majority aimed to make the 'silent' group vocal.
The original organisation 'Moral Majority, Inc.' disbanded in 1989. However, the term is still used to describe the enduring political bloc of socially conservative, often evangelical Christian voters in the US, and the phrase is used generically for similar movements elsewhere.
A large group of people in a society whose views on social and political issues are believed to be based on traditional moral or religious values, especially when seen as a collective political force.
Moral majority is usually formal, journalistic, political analysis. often capitalised when referring to the specific organisation. in register.
Moral majority: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɒr.əl məˈdʒɒr.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɔːr.əl məˈdʒɔːr.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Silent majority (related, but not identical)”
- “Culture wars”
- “The heartland”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MAJORity rules based on MORALS.' It's a group (majority) defining the rules by their shared moral code.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A BATTLEFIELD OF VALUES (The moral majority is an army or a voting bloc in this battle). PUBLIC OPINION IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (It is a silent, powerful mass that can be mobilised).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Moral Majority' most accurately and specifically used?