moral rearmament: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Historical / RareFormal, Historical, Ideological
Quick answer
What does “moral rearmament” mean?
A movement advocating for spiritual and moral renewal as a foundation for societal improvement, emphasizing absolute moral standards of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A movement advocating for spiritual and moral renewal as a foundation for societal improvement, emphasizing absolute moral standards of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love.
An ideological campaign, particularly active in the mid-20th century, that sought to counteract perceived moral decline by promoting personal change as the basis for solving political and social problems. It was often seen as a quasi-religious, non-denominational revivalist movement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in English and was used similarly on both sides of the Atlantic, primarily in political and religious discourse. The movement itself had significant followings in the UK and the US.
Connotations
In both varieties, it often evokes a specific historical period (post-WWII) and can carry a slight pejorative sense of naive moralism or cult-like enthusiasm.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use outside historical or academic discussion.
Grammar
How to Use “moral rearmament” in a Sentence
The [noun/group] advocated for moral rearmament.He called for a national moral rearmament.The movement was based on the principle of moral rearmament.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “moral rearmament” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The group sought to morally rearm the nation's conscience.
- He believed society needed to rearm itself morally.
American English
- They aimed to morally re-arm the public sphere.
- The preacher called on us to rearm our moral convictions.
adjective
British English
- The moral rearmament movement gained traction in the 1930s.
- His moral-rearmament philosophy seemed simplistic to critics.
American English
- She was involved in Moral Rearmament activities for years.
- The moral rearmament agenda focused on personal change.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, or political science contexts to describe the specific movement and its ideology.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by an older speaker recalling the mid-20th century.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “moral rearmament”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “moral rearmament”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moral rearmament”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'becoming more moral'.
- Confusing it with general religious revivalism.
- Misspelling as 'moral re-armament'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The organized movement declined significantly in the late 20th century, though successor organizations and initiatives inspired by its ideas may exist. It is primarily a subject of historical study.
It was not a formal religion with its own deity, but a non-denominational spiritual and ethical movement. Critics often described it as having cult-like characteristics due to its intense group dynamics and devotion to its founder's ideas.
Moral Rearmament was the new name adopted in 1938 by the Oxford Group, a Christian movement founded by Frank Buchman in the 1920s. The rebranding reflected a desire for a broader, more action-oriented identity.
It is tied to a specific historical movement whose prominence faded after the mid-20th century. Its approach is often seen as dated, and the term itself has not entered general vocabulary as a common phrase.
A movement advocating for spiritual and moral renewal as a foundation for societal improvement, emphasizing absolute moral standards of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love.
Moral rearmament is usually formal, historical, ideological in register.
Moral rearmament: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɒr.əl riˈɑːməmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɔːr.əl riˈɑːrmərmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 're-arming' a nation not with weapons, but with morals.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALITY IS A WEAPON / MORAL STRENGTH IS MILITARY STRENGTH.
Practice
Quiz
What was a primary goal of the Moral Rearmament movement?