Ethical means relating to beliefs about right and wrong.
...the moral and ethical standards in the school.
...the medical, nursing and ethical issues surrounding terminally-ill people.
ethically (eθɪkli)adverb [ADVERB adjective/-ed, ADVERB after verb]
Attorneys are ethically and legally bound to absolute confidentiality.
2. adjective
If you describe something as ethical, you mean that it is morally right or morally acceptable.
...ethical investment schemes.
Does the party think it is ethical to link tax policy with party fund-raising?
ethicallyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
Mayors want local companies to behave ethically.
More Synonyms of ethical
ethical in British English
(ˈɛθɪkəl)
adjective
1.
in accordance with principles of conduct that are considered correct, esp those of a given profession or group
2.
of or relating to ethics
3.
(of a medicinal agent) available legally only with a doctor's prescription or consent
Derived forms
ethically (ˈethically)
adverb
ethicalness (ˈethicalness) or ethicality (ˌethiˈcality)
noun
ethical in American English
(ˈɛθɪkəl)
adjective
1.
having to do with ethics or morality; of or conforming to moral standards
2.
conforming to the standards of conduct of a given profession or group
3.
designating or of a drug obtainable only on a doctor's prescription
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈmoral
Derived forms
ethicality (ˌethiˈcality) (ˈɛθɪˈkæləti)
noun or ˈethicalness
ethically (ˈethically)
adverb
Word origin
ME ethik (< L ethicus < Gr ēthikos < ēthos, character, custom < IE base *swedh-, essential quality, own character > Goth swes, L suus, one's own & suescere, to become accustomed) + -al
Examples of 'ethical' in a sentence
ethical
In the past there has been much talk of an ethical foreign aid policy.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
How does all that jetting around sit with an ethical buying policy?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is a belief that the employer has a moral and ethical obligation to the workforce.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There are huge moral, legal and ethical issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The desire to win medals superseded their collective moral and ethical compass and Olympic values of fair play.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What is more worrying is that many legal and ethical issues are yet to be settled, eg should autonomous cars continue to have a driver?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Target said it is'committed to the highest ethical and legal standards '.
The Sun (2016)
Want to learn more about how these ethical entrepreneurs are changing lives?
Christianity Today (2000)
So the firms in which ethical funds invest are increasingly in demand.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The question remains whether one should reject the concept of pluralism which reflects moral and ethical relativism.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It would be naive to suggest that the ethical conduct of war is easy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Is there any evidence of an environmental or ethical policy?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
When did jeans become an ethical issue?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Other ideas included focusing energy on ethical investments.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
How should companies go about shaping their ethical policies?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Poor performance explains why retail investors have been turning away from ethical funds.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Does it have a written ethical policy?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Just another ethical investment or a force to be reckoned with?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Purchase power is the only tool that people have to force companies to conform to acceptable ethical standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
For many people it is a way of avoiding dealing with banks and doing something ethical with their money.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
As a result almost all ethical funds are in the bottom half of the performance tables over one year.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is important that its senior management should have both the necessary commitment and experience and also the highest ethical standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Asking students to be more ethical in their conduct; explaining why they should be.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
So, can we just forget about ethical dilemmas?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He is not there to teach moral, ethical or patriotic lessons.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We feel it is right from an ethical and animal welfare perspective,' she added.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
ethical
British English: ethical /ˈɛθɪkl/ ADJECTIVE
Ethical means relating to beliefs about right and wrong.
...our ethical obligations to protect the natural world.
American English: ethical
Arabic: أَخْلَاقيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: ético
Chinese: 民族的
Croatian: etički
Czech: etický
Danish: etisk
Dutch: ethisch
European Spanish: ético
Finnish: eettinen
French: éthique
German: ethisch
Greek: ηθικός
Italian: etico
Japanese: 倫理的な
Korean: 윤리적인
Norwegian: etisk
Polish: etyczny
European Portuguese: ético
Romanian: etic
Russian: этический
Latin American Spanish: ético
Swedish: etisk
Thai: ตามหลักจริยธรรม
Turkish: ahlaki
Ukrainian: моральний
Vietnamese: có đạo đức
All related terms of 'ethical'
pre-ethical
not governed by ethics , or not having an ethical or moral aspect
ethical code
an ethical code is a set of moral principles used to govern the conduct of a profession
ethical drug
a drug which is only available legally with a doctor's prescription or consent
ethical issue
An issue is an important subject that people are arguing about or discussing .
ethical vegan
a person who adopts a vegan lifestyle for a moral purpose, such as to minimize the exploitation of animals
ethical dilemma
A dilemma is a difficult situation in which you have to choose between two or more alternatives .
ethical policy
A policy is a set of ideas or plans that is used as a basis for making decisions , especially in politics , economics , or business.
ethical investment
an investment in a company whose activities or products are not considered by the investor to be unethical
ethical objections
If you make or raise an objection to something, you say that you do not like it or agree with it.
ethical question
A question is a problem , matter, or point which needs to be considered.
ethical standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable.
ethical consideration
A consideration is something that should be thought about, especially when you are planning or deciding something.
ethical implications
The implications of something are the things that are likely to happen as a result.
nihilism
Nihilism is a belief which rejects all political and religious authority and current ideas in favour of the individual.
meta-ethics
the philosophical study of questions about the nature of ethical judgment as distinct from questions of normative ethics , for example, whether ethical judgments state facts or express attitudes , whether there are objective standards of morality , and how moral judgments can be justified
Chinese translation of 'ethical'
ethical
(ˈɛθɪkl)
adj
(= relating to ethics)[question, problem]伦(倫)理的 (lúnlǐ de)
(= morally right) 合乎道德的 (héhū dàodé de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
of or relating to ethics
the ethical dilemmas of genetic engineering
Synonyms
moral
The court case has raised several moral issues.
behavioural
2 (adjective)
Definition
in accordance with principles of professional conduct
Would it be ethical to lie to save a person's life?
Synonyms
right
It's not right, leaving her like this.
morally right
morally acceptable
good
The president is a good man.
just
She fought honestly for a just cause and for freedom.
fitting
The President's address was a fitting end to the campaign.
fair
I wanted them to get a fair deal.
responsible
principled
She was a strong, principled woman.
correct
They refuse to adopt the rules of correct behaviour.
decent
After a decent interval they invited their new neighbours round for dinner.
proper
In those days it was not thought proper for a woman to be on the stage.
upright
a very upright, trustworthy man
honourable
I believe she is an honourable person.
honest
My dad was the most honest man I have ever met.
righteous
She concluded that it was impossible to find one righteous person.
virtuous
The president is portrayed as a virtuous family man.
Opposites
unfair
,
indecent
,
improper
,
immoral
,
unscrupulous
,
low-down (informal)
,
unethical
,
unseemly
,
disreputable
,
underhand
,
dishonourable
,
not cricket (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of correct
Definition
in conformity with accepted standards
They refuse to adopt the rules of correct behaviour.
Synonyms
proper,
seemly,
standard,
fitting,
diplomatic,
kosher (informal)
in the sense of decent
Definition
fitting or proper
After a decent interval they invited their new neighbours round for dinner.