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work ethic

American

[wurk eth-ik] / ˈwɜrk ˌɛθ ɪk /

noun

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

work ethic British

noun

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of work ethic

First recorded in 1950–55

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.

See Examples For:

work ethic

The comedian later said his father's work ethic greatly influenced his approach to his own career.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Three years before Kent’s parents, Sherry and Alan, bought their eldest boy the Toyota truck, they saw his work ethic and drive in 1982 while Jeff tried to earn money for his Walkman.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

The messaging that emanates from these figures steers people away from the traditional work ethic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

"I think that work ethic is really what keeps me grounded."

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

My parents had instilled in me a strong work ethic and a nothing-but-the-best mentality.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023