ethicist

noun

eth·​i·​cist ˈe-thə-sist 

: a specialist in ethics

Examples of ethicist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What’s needed is some mix of ethicists, physicists, philosophers, legal scholars, historians, cultural anthropologists, engineers, sociologists, psychologists and policymakers. — Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026

This history is not top of mind for legal scholars, ethicists, and technologists who are thinking about robots. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

There’s no doubt that both of Wednesday’s reports will be required reading for AI engineers, ethicists, sci-fi writers, and others for decades to come. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

Medical ethicists say research oversight has become overly beholden to industry priorities. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

ethicist

noun

eth·​i·​cist ˈeth-ə-səst 

: one who specializes in or is very concerned about ethics

now ethicists must confront the unsettling question of whether to set limits on scientific inquiry

—Ricardo Sookdeo