work ethic

American  

[wurk eth-ik] / ˈwɜrk ˌɛθ ɪk /

noun

1. a belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character.

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work ethic British  

noun

1. a belief in the moral value of work (often in the phrase Protestant work ethic )

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Etymology

Origin of work ethic

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

work ethic

The comedian later said his father's work ethic greatly influenced his approach to his own career.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

The additional effort he puts in—seeding, watering, fertilizing, aerating—is a reflection of his professional work ethic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

"I think that work ethic is really what keeps me grounded."

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

Chicago gave credit to Parazaider for conceiving of the band’s distinct instrumentation, and the work ethic that made them stars.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

It’s a lot of effort, and it seems to me that without my work ethic, you’d be screwed.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen