Word
unethical
Phoneticsun·eth·i·cal, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈnɛθɪkəɫ/
UK/ʌnˈɛθɪkəl/
Definitions
01morally wrong
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. wrong or dishonest according to general moral principles.
adj. morally reprehensible or lacking in moral principles; not conforming to accepted standards of right and wrong.
“It is unethical to lie to your customers just to make a sale.”
“Many people believe that testing cosmetic products on animals is fundamentally unethical, regardless of the potential benefits to the industry.”
Antonyms
02professional misconduct
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic · Formal
adj. breaking the official rules or standards of a specific job, like a doctor or lawyer.
adj. violating the formal code of conduct or established standards of a particular profession or organization.
“The lawyer was punished for unethical behavior after sharing private information about a client.”
“The medical board launched an investigation into the surgeon's unethical practices after several patients reported being pressured into unnecessary procedures.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Unethical behavior inside organizations is often less sudden than companies assume.” “But at the moment, AI is often used in ways researchers find annoying and unethical.” Etymology
From un- + ethical.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/unethical