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ethical

[eth-i-kuhl]
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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.
  3. (of drugs) sold only upon medical prescription.
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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

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

Antonyms

2. immoral.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

codeethicalnessethicsmoralmoralityprincipleprinciples
British Dictionary definitions for ethicality

ethical

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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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 ethicality

ethical

adj.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
ethicality in Medicine

ethical

(ĕth′ĭ-kəl)
adj.
  1. Of, relating to, or dealing with ethics.
  2. Being in accordance with the accepted principles of right and wrong that govern the conduct of a profession.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.