ethic

noun

eth·ic ˈe-thik How to pronounce ethic (audio)

: a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values

the present-day materialistic ethic

an old-fashioned work ethic

—often used in plural but singular or plural in construction

an elaborate ethicsChristian ethics

ethics ˈe-thiks How to pronounce ethic (audio)

plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group

professional ethics

: a consciousness of moral importance

forge a conservation ethic

: a guiding philosophy

ethics plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (such as rightness)

debated the ethics of human cloning

ethics plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation

Did you know?

Ethics vs Morals: Is there a difference?

Ethics and morals are both used in the plural and are often regarded as synonyms, but there is some distinction in how they are used.

Morals often describes one's particular values concerning what is right and what is wrong:

It would go against my morals to help you cheat on the test.

He appears to view himself as a kind of culture warrior, striking out against the crumbling morals of modern society.
Jonathan Goldsbie, Now Toronto, 16 Oct. 2014

While ethics can refer broadly to moral principles, one often sees it applied to questions of correct behavior within a relatively narrow area of activity:

Our class had a debate over the ethics of genetic testing.

Anybody, it seemed, could make the music -- if they couldn't play guitar, they could push a button -- and nobody worried about the ethics of appropriating riffs.
Jennifer Foote, Newsweek, 23 July 1990

In addition, morals usually connotes an element of subjective preference, while ethics tends to suggest aspects of universal fairness and the question of whether or not an action is responsible:

Perhaps you don’t like Kim Kardashian, or her family, or her morals don’t align with yours, or you just think it’s weird that she might have had some plastic surgery, likes to apply makeup in a really complicated way and named her kid “Saint.”
Sarah Boboltz, The Huffington Post, 12 Oct. 2016

The Frenches, both professors in The Media School, focused on the ethics of making medical decisions for a child who could not express her own wishes yet…
Chris Mura, Indiana Daily Student, 18 Oct. 2016

Example Sentences

Ethics is his chosen field of study.

Recent Examples on the Web The ethic of noninterference involves our ability to control decisions about our own lives, for good or ill.

Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 De Niro took the Stanislavskian ethic of rigorous preparation to an extreme without being beholden to the dogma that had grown up around the Method in the United States.

Evan Kindley, The New Republic, 31 Jan. 2022 Also at issue were AB’s tactics for marketing the beer, which bore similarities to Patagonia’s environmental brand ethic.

Andrew Weaver, Outside Online, 24 Mar. 2021 Japanese culture also depends on an ethic of public self-restraint that can be marshaled into group action.

New York Times, 2 July 2022 Japanese culture also depends on an ethic of public self-restraint that can be marshaled into group action.

Ben Dooley, BostonGlobe.com, 2 July 2022 Both originated in the Pacific Northwest, had their roots in punk, and shared a DIY ethic.

Peter Rubin, Longreads, 1 July 2022 The late author bell hooks wrote a beautiful essay about the ethic of love.

Maisie Sparks, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 June 2022 Yet even in Waters’ filthy world, there may be something approaching an ethic.

Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2022 See More

ethic

noun

as in standards

Synonyms & Similar Words

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principles
values
tradition
mode
norm
heritage
culture
rule
mores
legacy
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form
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单词	ethic
释义	ethic noun eth·ic ˈe-thik 1 a : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values the present-day materialistic ethic an old-fashioned work ethic —often used in plural but singular or plural in construction an elaborate ethicsChristian ethics b ethics ˈe-thiks plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group professional ethics c : a consciousness of moral importance forge a conservation ethic d : a guiding philosophy 2 ethics plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (such as rightness) debated the ethics of human cloning 3 ethics plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation Did you know? Ethics vs Morals: Is there a difference? Ethics and morals are both used in the plural and are often regarded as synonyms, but there is some distinction in how they are used. Morals often describes one's particular values concerning what is right and what is wrong: It would go against my morals to help you cheat on the test. He appears to view himself as a kind of culture warrior, striking out against the crumbling morals of modern society. Jonathan Goldsbie, Now Toronto, 16 Oct. 2014 While ethics can refer broadly to moral principles, one often sees it applied to questions of correct behavior within a relatively narrow area of activity: Our class had a debate over the ethics of genetic testing. Anybody, it seemed, could make the music -- if they couldn't play guitar, they could push a button -- and nobody worried about the ethics of appropriating riffs. Jennifer Foote, Newsweek, 23 July 1990 In addition, morals usually connotes an element of subjective preference, while ethics tends to suggest aspects of universal fairness and the question of whether or not an action is responsible: Perhaps you don’t like Kim Kardashian, or her family, or her morals don’t align with yours, or you just think it’s weird that she might have had some plastic surgery, likes to apply makeup in a really complicated way and named her kid “Saint.” Sarah Boboltz, The Huffington Post, 12 Oct. 2016 The Frenches, both professors in The Media School, focused on the ethics of making medical decisions for a child who could not express her own wishes yet… Chris Mura, Indiana Daily Student, 18 Oct. 2016 Synonyms ethos morality morals norms principles standards See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Ethics is his chosen field of study. Recent Examples on the Web The ethic of noninterference involves our ability to control decisions about our own lives, for good or ill. Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 De Niro took the Stanislavskian ethic of rigorous preparation to an extreme without being beholden to the dogma that had grown up around the Method in the United States. Evan Kindley, The New Republic, 31 Jan. 2022 Also at issue were AB’s tactics for marketing the beer, which bore similarities to Patagonia’s environmental brand ethic. Andrew Weaver, Outside Online, 24 Mar. 2021 Japanese culture also depends on an ethic of public self-restraint that can be marshaled into group action. New York Times, 2 July 2022 Japanese culture also depends on an ethic of public self-restraint that can be marshaled into group action. Ben Dooley, BostonGlobe.com, 2 July 2022 Both originated in the Pacific Northwest, had their roots in punk, and shared a DIY ethic. Peter Rubin, Longreads, 1 July 2022 The late author bell hooks wrote a beautiful essay about the ethic of love. Maisie Sparks, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 June 2022 Yet even in Waters’ filthy world, there may be something approaching an ethic. Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English ethik, from Middle French ethique, from Latin ethice, from Greek ēthikē, from ēthikos First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3 Phrases Containing ethic Protestant ethic work ethic Protestant ethic work ethic ethic noun as in standards Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance standards principles values tradition mode norm heritage culture rule mores legacy custom convention prescription form inheritance lifestyle rubric folklore birthright superstition lore
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ethic

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing ethic

noun