ethic

noun

eth·ic | \ ˈe-thik

Definition of ethic

1 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

2a : 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 ethicsChristian ethics

b ethics plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group professional ethics

c : a guiding philosophy

d : a consciousness of moral importance forge a conservation ethic

3 ethics plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (such as rightness) debated the ethics of human cloning

Ethics vs Morals: Is there a difference? More Example Sentences Learn More about ethic

Keep scrolling for more

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

He was not accused of directly violating ethics laws that limited his use of White House connections in lobbying. — Robert D. Mcfadden, New York Times, "Whitney North Seymour Jr., Former U.S. Prosecutor Who Fought Corruption, Dies at 95," 29 June 2019 The Farm, Joanne Ramos’s 2019 debut novel, is a potent tangle of these themes: the corrosive allure of privilege, the ethics of putting a price on fertility, the fine line between employment and exploitation. — The Atlantic, "What We’re Reading This Summer," 28 June 2019 Consider the ethics of wildlife photography in pursuit of the perfect photo. — Barry Willette, sun-sentinel.com, "Caught on camera: Consider safety when taking wildlife photos | Opinion," 28 June 2019 Simmons and Reed maintained all along that the federal government improperly made a federal case out of state ethics laws. — Robert Rhoden, nola.com, "U.S. Supreme Court won’t review Walter Reed’s convictions," 26 June 2019 The senators asked the White House to respond to a series of questions about Mr. Shine’s compliance with federal ethics law by Jan. 2. — Natalie Andrews, WSJ, "Senate Democrats Voice Concerns Over Bill Shine’s Ties to Fox News," 10 Dec. 2018 Bernhardt, a former lobbyist, took over as Trump’s Interior secretary in April after predecessor Ryan Zinke stepped down amid ethics allegations. — Ian James, azcentral, "Federal agency stands by disputed decision on Arizona development near San Pedro River," 19 June 2019 Her career was spent in support for women in politics, democracy building, political ethics, and anti-corruption practices. — courant.com, "Vaira Paegle," 18 June 2019 As a result of a state criminal investigation, McFaul ultimately admitted to two felony counts of theft in office and a misdemeanor ethics violation in 2009. — Robert Higgs, cleveland.com, "Opponents of plan to return to elected Cuyahoga County sheriff stir memories of the corrupt days of Gerald McFaul," 17 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ethic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.