ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ethical

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɛθɪkəɫ// UK //ˈɛθɪkəl// eth·i·cal General-service

adj. connected to beliefs about what is right and wrong. You use this to describe behavior that follows good moral rules.

adj. relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these. Often used to describe conduct that conforms to accepted professional standards or social values.


SIMPLE

The company has an ethical policy against child labor.

CONTEXTUAL

Many shoppers now choose brands based on their ethical treatment of workers and the environment.

COMPLEX

The committee debated the ethical implications of using artificial intelligence to make high-stakes medical decisions without human oversight.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From ethic + -al, from Late Latin ethicus (“moral, ethical”), from Ancient Greek ἠθικός (ēthikós, “of or for morals, moral, expressing character”), from ἦθος (êthos, “character, moral nature”).

Usage

Commonly precedes nouns like 'dilemma', 'standards', 'conduct', or 'investment'.

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