ethic

noun

eth·​ic ˈe-thik 

1

a

: a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values

… a new ethic emphasizing patient autonomy has gradually achieved dominance in medicine, an ethic articulated in court decisions and backed by legal sanction.

—Michael Philips

an old-fashioned work ethic

—often used in plural but singular or plural in construction

Christian ethics

Centuries of debate on the origin of ethics come down to this: Either ethical principles, such as justice and human rights, are independent of human experience, or they are human inventions.

—Edward O. Wilson

… ethics is a product of a long evolutionary process.

—Paul Kurtz

… the ethics which are buzzing down Fleet Street …

—G. K. Chesterton

see also protestant ethic, situation ethics, work ethic

b

ethics ˈe-thiks  plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group

government/journalistic/professional ethics

His ethics are questionable. [=some of his conduct may be morally wrong]

The company has its own code of ethics. [=its own set of rules about right and wrong behavior]

c

: an awareness of the moral importance of a specified thing

a peace ethic

a growing conservation ethic

d

: a guiding philosophy : ethos

Whatever was left of an ethic of service gave way to an ethic of salesmanship.

—Carl Elliot

2

ethics plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (such as rightness)

debated the ethics of animal testing

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

Ethics is the student's chosen field of study.

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

Synonyms of ethic

• principles
• norms
• standards
• morals
• morality

Examples of ethic in a Sentence

Ethics is his chosen field of study.

Recent Examples on the Web

Art Caplan, the head of the medical ethics division at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, said many of the people who get their insurance through the ACA work at or own small businesses. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025

The Links Guy is a link-building agency founded by Amit Raj with a mission to bring ethics back into the SEO and link-building industry. —Maria Williams, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025

The 23-year-old's actions sparked a viral conversation about the ethics behind billion-dollar fortunes. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

According to reporting from El Dorado Hills community publication Village Life in 2023, Loewen’s hasty exit came months after El Dorado Hills residents voiced concerns over possible ethics and contract violations. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing ethic

• Protestant ethic
• work ethic