ethics — moral 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.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
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
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“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.”
“The university requires all researchers to complete an ethics training course before conducting experiments.”
📚Related Words
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