ethical

[ eth-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct.
2. being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, especially the standards of a profession:

   It was not considered ethical for physicians to advertise.

   Synonyms: honorable, virtuous, righteous, honest, upright, moral

   Antonyms: immoral

3. (of drugs) sold only upon medical prescription.

ethical

/ ˈɛθɪkəl /

adjective

1. in accordance with principles of conduct that are considered correct, esp those of a given profession or group
2. of or relating to ethics
3. (of a medicinal agent) available legally only with a doctor's prescription or consent

Derived Forms

• ˈethically, adverb
• ˈethicalness, noun

Other Words From

• eth·i·cal·ly adverb
• eth·i·cal·i·ty [eth-i-, kal, -i-tee], eth·i·cal·ness noun
• hy·per·eth·i·cal adjective
• non·eth·i·cal adjective
• pseu·do·eth·i·cal adjective
• su·per·eth·i·cal adjective
• un·eth·i·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ethical¹

First recorded in 1600–10; ethic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The findings confirm that clinical studies by its controversial leader and others there violated ethical standards.

From Science Magazine

It is surprising that the university only asked its investigators to examine eight papers because Frank and other critics have flagged ethical concerns in hundreds of IHU studies, says Mathieu Molimard, a pharmacologist at the University of Bordeaux and an outspoken critic of the institute’s research.

From Science Magazine

The improper ethical review of the study is an “absolute scandal” that should have disqualified the authors from ever conducting more research, Molimard says: “I am extremely shocked that this paper has not been retracted.”

From Science Magazine

All the papers that flouted ethical standards should be “retracted without any exception,” Molimard says.

From Science Magazine

The paper, which included Raoult as an author, stated the research had been reviewed by an ethics committee at IHU and conducted in line with the Declaration of Helsinki, an internationally agreed set of guidelines for ethical clinical research.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• good
• honest
• honorable
• humane
• moral
• principled
• proper
• virtuous