ethical

American  

[eth-i-kuhl] / ˈɛθ ɪ kəl /

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.

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ethical British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of ethical

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

Example Sentences

Studying this process directly in humans is difficult due to ethical and technical limitations on obtaining brain tissue.

From Science Daily

Courts expect the client who is impacted, not a third party, to raise potential ethical issues.

From MarketWatch

And, there have been recent developments in the debate, including the retraction of a 2000 glyphosate study over ethical concerns surrounding one of its authors.

From Salon

Specialty eggs, which include cage-free, organic, and pasture-raised eggs, have seen growing popularity as more consumers are willing to pay a premium for ethical production or better nutrients.

From Barron's

Encourage AI-enhanced expertise among professionals: Humans will, for the foreseeable future, remain central for complex decision-making, ethical oversight and creative direction.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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