unethical
Americanadjective
-
lacking moral principles; unwilling to adhere to proper rules of conduct.
-
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.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- unethicality noun
- unethically adverb
- unethicalness noun
Etymology
Origin of unethical
Compare meaning
How does unethical compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ugarte has also faced allegations of unethical behavior for failing to disclose income he made through lobbying and consulting work outside of City Hall.
From Los Angeles Times
A new law went into effect Jan. 1 giving private citizens the right to sue an attorney for unethical practices.
From Los Angeles Times
The State Bar hated the news conference, disciplining the duo for what they considered an act of unethical and distasteful advertising.
From Los Angeles Times
“Kramer’s actions were illegal and unethical, and we are holding him accountable.”
In her lawsuit, she alleged “such conduct constitutes unlawful and unethical behavior for attorneys.”
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.