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

Pedroza said that his quarterback’s competitiveness and work ethic were evident from the first freshman year practice. — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

Green wanted to publicly credit him for his work ethic and impressive eye for detail. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026

This is a critical point in an 18-21-year-olds’ life to develop habits, behaviors, mindset, character, work ethic, things that no one seems to consider. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Sep. 2026

Watching old documentaries and seeing his work ethic also resonated with me. — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above