definitions

ethic

[ eth-ik ]
/ ˈɛθ ɪk /
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noun

the body of moral principles or values governing or distinctive of a particular culture or group: the Christian ethic; the tribal ethic of the Zuni.
a complex of moral precepts held or rules of conduct followed by an individual: a personal ethic.

RELATED WORDS

moral, principle, fairness, morality, integrity, virtue, righteousness, code, ethics, rightness, principles, ethicality, ethicalness

Nearby words

etherealize, etherege, etherify, etherize, ethernet, ethic, ethical, ethical culture, ethical hacker, ethical investment, ethical relativism

Origin of ethic

1350–1400; Middle English ethic, etic < Latin ēthicus < Greek ēthikós, equivalent to êth(os) ethos + -ikos -ic

Related forms

non·eth·ic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ethic

British Dictionary definitions for ethic

ethic

/ (ˈɛθɪk) /

noun

a moral principle or set of moral values held by an individual or groupthe Puritan ethic

adjective

another word for ethical
See also ethics

Word Origin for ethic

C15: from Latin ēthicus, from Greek éthikos, from ēthos custom; see ethos
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012