ethical

[eth-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct.

2. being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, especially the standards of a profession.

   It was not considered ethical for physicians to advertise.

   Synonyms: honorable, virtuous, righteous, honest, upright, moral
   Antonyms: immoral

3. (of drugs) sold only upon medical prescription.

ethical

/ ˈɛθɪkəl /

adjective

1. in accordance with principles of conduct that are considered correct, esp those of a given profession or group

2. of or relating to ethics

3. (of a medicinal agent) available legally only with a doctor's prescription or consent

Other Word Forms

• ethically adverb
• ethicality noun
• ethicalness noun
• hyperethical adjective
• nonethical adjective
• pseudoethical adjective
• superethical adjective
• unethical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ethical¹

First recorded in 1600–10; ethic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

For LJ Rich, the use of AI in music raises many "weird and beautiful ethical questions" which remain as yet unanswered.

Read more on BBC

Some clinicians and campaigners question whether the trial is ethical.

Read more on BBC

“Ensuring that interventions reflect the lived experiences, values and strengths of the communities we serve … is an ethical responsibility.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Babies delivered under contract rather than into kinship is an ethical nightmare.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The growing use of artificial intelligence in healthcare necessitates stronger legal and ethical safeguards to protect patients and healthcare workers, the World Health Organization's Europe branch said in a report published Wednesday.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• good 
• honest 
• honorable 
• humane 
• moral 
• principled 
• proper 
• virtuous