work ethic
Americannoun
noun
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.
"What came through more than anything else was his determination to succeed. That work ethic was clear."
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Coaches have raved about his mindset and work ethic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
Her father worked there while pursuing an engineering degree, instilling a work ethic she applied to everything from martial arts to a job taking out the trash at a park.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
“She was a baller,” Avery said of her mom’s work ethic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 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
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
