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

Uribe, who is Mexican American, said his work ethic comes from wanting to help the Latino community. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Senior officials have repeatedly defended Harp’s work ethic and character in public statements. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026

Nate Danielson, Eddie Genborg, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Carter Bear and others combine size, skill, skating and work ethic. — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Elci clarified that was a nod to his father’s work ethic, not a disregard for his passing. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above