ethical

[eth-i-kuhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ethical ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

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.

(of drugs) sold only upon medical prescription.

Origin of ethical

First recorded in 1600–10; ethic + -al¹

Related formseth·i·cal·ly, adverbeth·i·cal·i·ty, eth·i·cal·ness, nounhy·per·eth·i·cal, adjectivehy·per·eth·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·eth·i·cal, adjectivenon·eth·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·eth·i·cal·ness, nounpseu·do·eth·i·cal, adjectivepseu·do·eth·i·cal·ly, adverbsu·per·eth·i·cal, adjectivesu·per·eth·i·cal·ly, adverbun·eth·i·cal, adjective

Synonyms for ethical

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ethical ON THESAURUS.COM

2. moral, upright, honest, righteous, virtuous, honorable.

Antonyms for ethical

2. immoral.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for ethical

virtuous, honest, proper, honorable, principled, humane, clean, conscientious, correct, decent, elevated, equitable, fair, fitting, good, just, kosher, noble, respectable, right

Examples from the Web for ethical

Contemporary Examples of ethical

The founders of Ethical Oil, and opechatesgays, are Hamish Marshall and his wife, Kathryn Marshall.
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline
Jay Michaelson
December 28, 2014
As uncovered by the climate blog desmogblog, the Ethical Oil meme dates to a 2010 book by Ezra Levant.
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline
Jay Michaelson
December 28, 2014
The Ralph Retort, a paragon of ethical journalism websites, decided to make crowdsourcing stuff to discredit me into a project.
Rage Against GamerGate’s Hate Machine: What I Got For Speaking Up
Arthur Chu
November 17, 2014
Daniels says, championing the plight of an ethical news producer.
‘Newsroom’ Premiere: Aaron Sorkin Puts CNN on Blast Over the Boston Bombing
Kevin Fallon
November 10, 2014
But it is also a rejoinder to the view, which I expressed, that ethical norms are paramount.
The Real Enemy of Marital Bliss Are Those Most Opposed to Marriage Equality
Jay Michaelson
October 25, 2014

Historical Examples of ethical

Tears, of course, except in the privacy of one's closet, were not ethical on the Street.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
He might as well say that John Bunyan was deficient in ethical instincts.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton
Beneath the surface of his jokes there is moral earnestness, there is ethical passion.
The American Mind
Bliss Perry
They have all provided ways and means for our ethical evolution.
Mountain Meditations
L. Lind-af-Hageby
It is for you, gentlemen, to see that moral and ethical progress is unbroken.
Morals in Trade and Commerce
Frank B. Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for ethical

ethical

adjective

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

of or relating to ethics

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

Derived Formsethically, adverbethicalness or ethicality, noun

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

Word Origin and History for ethical

adj.

c.1600, "pertaining to morality," from ethic + -al (1). Related: Ethicality; ethically.

ethical in Medicine

ethical

[ĕth′ĭ-kəl]

adj.

Of, relating to, or dealing with ethics.

Being in accordance with the accepted principles of right and wrong that govern the conduct of a profession.