unethical
Americanadjective
-
lacking moral principles; unwilling to adhere to proper rules of conduct.
-
not in accord with the standards of a profession.
She treated patients outside the area of her training, and the appropriate medical organization punished her unethical behavior.
adjective
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Other Word Forms
- unethicality noun
- unethically adverb
- unethicalness noun
Etymology
Origin of unethical
Compare meaning
How does unethical compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His predecessor, Ashley Buchanan, was fired in May after only five months for unethical conduct.
From Barron's
UN and other aid agencies refused to co-operate with its system, saying it was unethical and unsafe.
From BBC
Bender has been interim CEO since early May, when Kohl’s fired Ashley Buchanan after only five months for unethical conduct.
From Barron's
Unlike the Golden Globes, the ceremony has not been beset by scandal or raised questions about unethical self-dealing.
From Los Angeles Times
After Cooper’s leadership role at Supernal was stripped away in April 2025, she reported widespread mismanagement and unethical conduct at Supernal directly to Hyundai Motor’s executive chairman.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.