ethical
adjective
eth·i·cal ˈe-thi-kəl 
variants or less commonly ethic
ˈe-thik
1
: of or relating to ethics
ethical theories
2
: involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval
ethical judgments
3
: conforming to accepted standards of conduct
ethical behavior
4
of a drug : restricted to sale only on a doctor's prescription
ethicality
ˌe-thə-ˈka-lə-tē
noun ethically
ˈe-thi-k(ə-)lē
adverb ethicalness
ˈe-thi-kəl-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- all right
- decent
- good
- honest
- honorable
- just
- moral
- nice
- right
- right-minded
- righteous
- straight
- true
- upright
- virtuous
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Some doctors feel that this procedure is not medically ethical. the ethical behavior expected of every member of the police force
Recent Examples on the Web The introductory sessions kicked off with comments from Alison Taylor, a research scientist for the ethical systems collaboration at New York University, who talked about the problems an all-encompassing acronym like ESG creates. 
Kristine Gill, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 Regardless, Loab sparked some lengthy ethical conversations around visual aesthetics, art and technology. Nina Raemont, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2022 All the while, the brand uses ethical production that's managed by female suppliers. Lauren Caruso, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Sep. 2022 The Brazilian system focuses on companies’ compliance, rewarding them for reporting the use of genetic resources with an ethical biotrading certification. Olive Heffernan, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2022 For all the above reasons, anything that concerns visual culture cannot but be an ethical matter. Vogue, 12 Sep. 2022 In 1998, Zatko appeared before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee as part of a panel of ethical hackers who urgently told Congress that the technology used to access the internet was not secure. Clare Duffy, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022 And Christianity is very unusual among ethical systems for expecting chastity of men. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2022 The minerals required for those batteries also present an ethical problem, as many are mined in areas with dismal human-rights records. Bjorn Lomborg, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 See More
Kristine Gill, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 Regardless, Loab sparked some lengthy ethical conversations around visual aesthetics, art and technology. Nina Raemont, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2022 All the while, the brand uses ethical production that's managed by female suppliers. Lauren Caruso, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Sep. 2022 The Brazilian system focuses on companies’ compliance, rewarding them for reporting the use of genetic resources with an ethical biotrading certification. Olive Heffernan, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2022 For all the above reasons, anything that concerns visual culture cannot but be an ethical matter. Vogue, 12 Sep. 2022 In 1998, Zatko appeared before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee as part of a panel of ethical hackers who urgently told Congress that the technology used to access the internet was not secure. Clare Duffy, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022 And Christianity is very unusual among ethical systems for expecting chastity of men. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2022 The minerals required for those batteries also present an ethical problem, as many are mined in areas with dismal human-rights records. Bjorn Lomborg, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English etik, from Latin ethicus, from Greek ēthikos, from ēthos character — more at sib
First Known Use
circa 1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing ethical
Kids Definition
ethical
adjective
eth·i·cal ˈe-thi-kəl
1
: involving questions of right and wrong : relating to ethics
ethical issues
2
: following accepted rules of behavior
We expect ethical treatment of animals.
Medical Definition
ethical 1 of 2
adjective
eth·i·cal ˈeth-i-kəl
variants also ethic
-ik
1
: conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct
2
of a drug : restricted to sale only on a doctor's prescription
ethical
2 of 2noun
: an ethical drug
Legal Definition
ethical
adjective
eth·i·cal ˈe-thi-kəl
1
: of or relating to ethics
2
: conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct
ethically
adverb
as in morally
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- morally
- legally
- nobly
- cleanly
- honorably
- fair
- high-mindedly
- clean
- fairly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- illegally
- dirty
- unethically
- immorally
- ignobly
- dishonorably
- underhandedly