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

He added that Genesis is committed to ethical practice and transparency.

From The Wall Street Journal

Genetically altering a human in this manner, researchers interviewed for this story said, is neither ethical nor practical.

From Los Angeles Times

The Hermitage press office insisted Butyagin's work complied with all international legal and ethical norms "regardless of geopolitical circumstances."

From BBC

You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions at [email protected],

From MarketWatch

Still, even if legal, giving assets like these to a relative doesn’t satisfy the ethical concern that a government official could act in a way that helps their family financially, they said.

From Salon

Related Words

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