ethic

noun

eth·ic ˈe-thik

Synonyms of ethic next

: 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 ethics

Christian ethics

ethics ˈe-thiks

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

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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

Examples of ethic in a Sentence

Ethics is his chosen field of study.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

At the outset of Trump’s new term, ethics experts are tracking his national security conflicts of interest, which are expected by observers to be more numerous, blatant and perhaps riskier than during his first term. —

Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025 Trump’s boundary-pushing extends not just to financial ethics but questions surrounding the limits of presidential power and operating within the rule of law, Painter said. —

Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2025 According to the resolution, Kelley Black violated the board’s policies, the Illinois Association of School Board’s code of conduct and principles of ethics in the nearly two-year span since she was first elected in April 2023. —

Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025 Zoom in: Gil Cabrera, a lawyer who specializes in municipal, election and ethics law and is the former chair of San Diego's Ethics Commission, said Blain appears to have violated California penal codes section 86 and 165. —

Andrew Keatts, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for ethic