ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unethical

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //əˈnɛθɪkəɫ// UK //ʌnˈɛθɪkəl// un·eth·i·cal

adj. describing an action that is morally wrong or not fair. You use this when someone breaks the rules of their job or does something that hurts others for their own gain.

adj. not conforming to high standards of moral conduct or professional practice. Often describes behavior that violates a specific code of conduct or exploits others for personal or corporate advantage.


SIMPLE

It is unethical to lie to your customers about a product.

CONTEXTUAL

The committee decided that using the company's private data for personal profit was highly unethical.

COMPLEX

While the strategy was technically legal under current regulations, the board ultimately rejected it as unethical because it intentionally misled vulnerable investors about the risks involved.

Antonyms
Origin

From un- + ethical.

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'is', 'seems', or 'remains'; frequently modified by adverbs of degree such as 'highly' or 'fundamentally'.

Pitfall

an unethical behaviorunethical behaviorBehavior is typically uncountable in English; learners often incorrectly use the indefinite article 'an' before 'unethical behavior'.

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