work ethic

American  

[wurk eth-ik] / ˈwɜrk ˌɛθ ɪk /

noun

1. a belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character.

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work ethic British  

noun

1. a belief in the moral value of work (often in the phrase Protestant work ethic )

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Etymology

Origin of work ethic

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

And former British number one Kyle Edmund says that while his parents were not pushy, they did push him to improve things like attitude and work ethic.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026

Chicago gave credit to Parazaider for conceiving of the band’s distinct instrumentation, and the work ethic that made them stars.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026

For decades, she’s cultivated an image built around relentless work ethic, optimism and early mornings spent turning ideas into reality.

From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026

Even if you have a hard time getting through Mr. King’s tombstone-thick books, you might come away with admiration for his work ethic.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

People who say today’s generation has no work ethic would take that back if they saw how busy I’d been in one short week.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen