# unethical

/əˈnɛθɪkəɫ/ (US) · /ʌnˈɛθɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unethical
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. morally wrong

adjective · CEFR B2

wrong or dishonest according to general moral principles.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. professional misconduct

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic · Formal

breaking the official rules or standards of a specific job, like a doctor or lawyer.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- It is unethical to lie to your customers about a product.
- The committee decided that using the company's private data for personal profit was highly unethical.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.