ethical

adjective

eth·​i·​cal ˈe-thi-kəl 

variants or less commonly ethic

ˈe-thik 

1

: of or relating to ethics

ethical theories

2

: involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval

ethical judgments

3

: conforming to accepted standards of conduct

ethical behavior

4

of a drug : restricted to sale only on a doctor's prescription

ethicality

ˌe-thə-ˈka-lə-tē 

noun

ethically

ˈe-thi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

ethicalness

ˈe-thi-kəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• all right
• decent
• good
• honest
• honorable
• just
• moral
• nice
• right
• right-minded
• righteous
• straight
• true
• upright
• virtuous

Choose the Right Synonym for ethical

moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good.

moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

Examples of ethical in a Sentence

Some doctors feel that this procedure is not medically ethical.

the ethical behavior expected of every member of the police force

Recent Examples on the Web

Balancing Research and Respect Some libraries that have undertaken an ethical review of their anthropodermic books have reached different conclusions. —Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Steven Carpenter’s handsomely straightforward production unfolds on a living room set (by Joseph B. Musumeci Jr.) that speaks quietly of its inhabitants’ consequence and connections, underscoring the material realities that are as much at stake here as the ethical ones. —Trey Graham, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024

The incoming president also put his two adult sons in charge of the family business, which was controlled by a trust that critics said didn't have strong enough requirements to prevent potential ethical conflicts. —Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

Though many remember Coachella as the home of problematic native American headdresses in the 2010s, the main ethical problem with the fashion now is how much of it is made by people working in slave-labor conditions and then thrown away. —Alana Hope Levinson, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2024

The speakers cited Betz’s conservative political record, calling it an ethical violation and misuse of taxpayer dollars. —Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024

Paula Goldman, Salesforce’s chief ethical and humane use officer, told Fortune executive news editor Nick Lichtenberg that AI should play the role of copilot alongside humans—not exist on autopilot. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024

Is one a more ethical relation to art than the other? —Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2024

The practice of using AI for writing feedback or grading assignments also raises ethical considerations. —Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English etik, from Latin ethicus, from Greek ēthikos, from ēthos character — more at sib

First Known Use

circa 1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ethical

• pre-ethical

Kids Definition

ethical

adjective

eth·​i·​cal ˈeth-i-kəl 

1

: of or relating to ethics

2

a

: following accepted rules of conduct

b

: following professional standards of conduct

3

: sold only on a doctor's prescription

ethical drugs

ethically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

ethical

1 of 2 adjective

eth·​i·​cal ˈeth-i-kəl 

variants also ethic

-ik 

1

: conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct

2

of a drug : restricted to sale only on a doctor's prescription

ethically

ˈeth-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

ethical

2 of 2 noun

: an ethical drug

Legal Definition

ethical

adjective

eth·​i·​cal ˈe-thi-kəl 

1

: of or relating to ethics

2

: conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct

ethically adverb