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

Choose the Right Synonym for ethical

moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good.

moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

Examples of ethical in a Sentence

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

With risks, investments, and ethical considerations to weigh, the right questions can determine the success of AI initiatives. —Julie Petit, WWD, 3 Feb. 2025

The Aritzia Cashmere Hood is made from jersey-knit, 100 percent Grade A cashmere verified for ethical sustainability by The Good Cashmere Standard. —Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2025

Maternal Motivation: Exploring the Roles of Prolactin and Pup Stimuli Cody Cottier is a contributing writer at Discover who loves exploring big questions about the universe and our home planet, the nature of consciousness, the ethical implications of science and more. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025

Yamada got her start at Kyoto Animation, a studio known for its ethical labor conditions, a higher percentage of women artists, and prioritization of quality over quantity. —Kayti Burt, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025

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

• pre-ethical

Kids Definition

ethical

adjective

eth·​i·​cal ˈeth-i-kəl 

1

: of or relating to ethics

2

a

: following accepted rules of conduct

b

: following professional standards of conduct

3

: sold only on a doctor's prescription

ethical drugs

ethically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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

ethically

ˈeth-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

ethical

2 of 2 noun

: 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