Link Centre Dictionary

ethical

et·hi·cal

UK/ˈɛθɪkəl/ US/ˈɛθɪkəl] ~ [ˈɛθɪkl̩/ fairly common

adjective

1.

of or relating to the philosophical study of ethics

  • “ethical codes”
  • “ethical theories”
2.

conforming to accepted standards of social or professional behavior

  • “an ethical lawyer”
  • “ethical medical practice”
  • “an ethical problem”
  • “had no ethical objection to drinking”
  • “Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants” Omar N. Bradley
Antonyms
3.

adhering to ethical and moral principles

  • “it seems ethical and right”
  • “followed the only honorable course of action”
  • “had the moral courage to stand alone”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

From ethic + -al, from Late Latin ethicus (“moral, ethical”), from Ancient Greek ἠθικός (ēthikós, “of or for morals, moral, expressing character”), from ἦθος (êthos, “character, moral nature”).

Phrases

  • ethical dative
  • ethical egoism
  • ethical investment
  • ethical programming
  • ethical screen
  • ethical system
  • ethical Ten Commandments
  • ethical wall

Related words

Word family

See also

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.