unethical

[uhn-eth-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. lacking moral principles; unwilling to adhere to proper rules of conduct.

2. not in accord with the standards of a profession.

   She treated patients outside the area of her training, and the appropriate medical organization punished her unethical behavior.

unethical

/ ʌnˈɛθɪkəl /

adjective

1. not ethical; improper

   companies involved in unethical practices

Other Word Forms

• unethically adverb
• unethicalness noun
• unethicality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unethical¹

un- ¹ + ethical

Example Sentences

Unlike the Golden Globes, the ceremony has not been beset by scandal or raised questions about unethical self-dealing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After Cooper’s leadership role at Supernal was stripped away in April 2025, she reported widespread mismanagement and unethical conduct at Supernal directly to Hyundai Motor’s executive chairman.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That partial victory may mean renewed scrutiny on regulations that some sports say are needed to protect fairness in the female category, but which critics argue are unethical and discriminatory.

Read more on BBC

In the meantime, she paid £349 to another provider who then said they too had run out, which she describes as "unethical".

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He told the press it would be unethical to rely on a witness he considered a liar, bluntly conceding: “The case is in trouble.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• corrupt 
• illegal 
• improper 
• underhanded 
• unfair 
• unprofessional 
• unscrupulous 
• wrong