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ethicsmoral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈeθɪks/

Example Sentences

  • The politician's ethics were questioned when he was caught eating lunch with a lobster... I mean lobbying with a lobster restaurant owner.
  • The company's ethics policy clearly states that employees cannot accept gifts worth more than $50.
  • My work ethics are so strong that I even feel guilty about taking bathroom breaks.

ethics

NOUN

[/ˈeθɪks/]

moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity

The journalist refused the bribe, choosing her ethics over easy money.
💡 Concept

The journalist refused the bribe, choosing her ethics over easy money.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈeθɪks/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈeθɪks/

🌳Etymology

Rooteth-
Suffix--ics

Origin

The word derives from ancient Greek 'ethikos', meaning 'of or pertaining to character and custom'. The concept developed as ancient Greek philosophers systematically investigated human conduct and moral virtue, establishing ethics as a philosophical discipline concerned with right action and human flourishing.

Breakdown

ethikos (of character, moral) + -ics (study of). The Greek root 'ethos' (character, custom) combines with the Latin nominalization suffix '-ics' to form the abstract noun denoting the systematic study of moral principles and human conduct.

🎵Rhyme

physicsgraphicsatics
physics
graphics
atics

🔗Collocations

business ethics
code of ethics
medical ethics
professional ethics
work ethics
research ethics
ethics committee

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The politician's ethics were questioned when he was caught eating lunch with a lobster... I mean lobbying with a lobster restaurant owner.

The company's ethics policy clearly states that employees cannot accept gifts worth more than $50.

😄 Fun example

My work ethics are so strong that I even feel guilty about taking bathroom breaks.

The university requires all researchers to complete an ethics training course before conducting experiments.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

moralityprinciplesvaluesintegrityvirtue

Antonyms

immoralitycorruptiondishonesty

Related

philosophyconscienceresponsibilityconductbehavior

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