English Explanatory Dictionary

ethical

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of or relating to the study of ethics.
  2. Of or relating to the accepted principles of right and wrong, especially those of some organization or profession.
  3. Morally approvable; good.
  4. Only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.
noun
  1. An ethical drug, one only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.

Pronunciation

/ˈɛθɪkəl/ [ˈɛθɪkəl] ~ [ˈɛθɪkl̩] en-us-ethical.ogg

Word forms

ethical more ethical most ethical ethicals

Etymology

From ethic + -al, from Late Latin ethicus (“moral, ethical”), from Ancient Greek ἠθικός (ēthikós, “of or for morals, moral, expressing character”), from ἦθος (êthos, “character, moral nature”).

Related words

ethic ethics ethos ethical dative

Derived words

anethical astroethical bioethical cyberethical ethical egoism ethical investment ethicalism ethicality ethically ethicalness ethical programming ethical screen ethical system ethical Ten Commandments ethical wall ethify hyperethical meta-ethical metaethical neuroethical nonethical politicoethical preethical protoethical pseudoethical psychoethical religioethical socioethical superethical unethical
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