work ethic

noun

: a belief in work as a moral good : a set of values centered on the importance of doing work and reflected especially in a desire or determination to work hard

Examples of work ethic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Under Luis Enrique, the Parisians have become one of, if not, the dominant forces in the European game and, with a young squad full of togetherness, tenacity and a tiresome work ethic, the sky really is the limit for this team. —Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 6 May 2026

Like his older siblings, Beau said his father always stressed the importance of caring for the environment and having a strong work ethic. —Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026

Singling out their work ethic, Mantello extolled the way Lane and Metcalf can be relied on to hit the ground running. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026

The reality is that, nowadays, a can-do attitude and unrelenting work ethic aren’t enough to live comfortably, much less to achieve the same American dream our parents did. —Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above