ethic

noun

eth·​ic ˈe-thik How to pronounce ethic (audio)
1
a
: a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values
the present-day materialistic ethic
an old-fashioned work ethic
often used in plural but singular or plural in construction
an elaborate ethics
Christian ethics
b
ethics ˈe-thiks How to pronounce ethic (audio) plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group
professional ethics
c
: a consciousness of moral importance
forge a conservation ethic
d
: a guiding philosophy
2
ethics plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (such as rightness)
debated the ethics of human cloning
3
ethics plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation

Did you know?

Ethics vs Morals: Is there a difference?

Ethics and morals are both used in the plural and are often regarded as synonyms, but there is some distinction in how they are used.

Morals often describes one's particular values concerning what is right and what is wrong:

It would go against my morals to help you cheat on the test.

He appears to view himself as a kind of culture warrior, striking out against the crumbling morals of modern society.
Jonathan Goldsbie, Now Toronto, 16 Oct. 2014

While ethics can refer broadly to moral principles, one often sees it applied to questions of correct behavior within a relatively narrow area of activity:

Our class had a debate over the ethics of genetic testing.

Anybody, it seemed, could make the music -- if they couldn't play guitar, they could push a button -- and nobody worried about the ethics of appropriating riffs.
Jennifer Foote, Newsweek, 23 July 1990

In addition, morals usually connotes an element of subjective preference, while ethics tends to suggest aspects of universal fairness and the question of whether or not an action is responsible:

Perhaps you don’t like Kim Kardashian, or her family, or her morals don’t align with yours, or you just think it’s weird that she might have had some plastic surgery, likes to apply makeup in a really complicated way and named her kid “Saint.”
Sarah Boboltz, The Huffington Post, 12 Oct. 2016

The Frenches, both professors in The Media School, focused on the ethics of making medical decisions for a child who could not express her own wishes yet…
Chris Mura, Indiana Daily Student, 18 Oct. 2016

Examples of ethic in a Sentence

Ethics is his chosen field of study.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ultimately, Burger King tried to make things right by donating some of its profits to Mental Health America and came away with a lesson on the importance of ethics when promoting a socially conscious issue. Nicole Dunn, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 After Libby refused, the House voted 75-70 to censure her for violating lawmakers’ ethics code. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 21 May 2025 About 100 city officials or staffers were dinged by the ethics board this year over not submitting the form on time, up from last year’s total of 72 city employees, including two aldermen: Coleman and Scott. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025 Concerns are centered on the legality, ethics and national security of such a move. Patrick Knickerbocker, CNBC, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ethic

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ethik, from Middle French ethique, from Latin ethice, from Greek ēthikē, from ēthikos

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of ethic was in 1589

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Cite this Entry

“Ethic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethic. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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