ethics

[ eth-iks ]

noun

1. (used with a singular or plural verb) a system of moral principles:

   the ethics of a culture.

2. (used with a plural verb) the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: Christian ethics.

   medical ethics;

   Christian ethics.

3. (used with a plural verb) moral principles, as of an individual:

   His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.

4. (used with a singular verb) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions. Compare axiological ethics, deontological ethics.

ethics

/ ˈɛθɪks /

noun

1. functioning as singular the philosophical study of the moral value of human conduct and of the rules and principles that ought to govern it; moral philosophy See also meta-ethics
2. functioning as plural a social, religious, or civil code of behaviour considered correct, esp that of a particular group, profession, or individual
3. functioning as plural the moral fitness of a decision, course of action, etc

   he doubted the ethics of their verdict

ethics

1. The branch of philosophy that deals with morality. Ethics is concerned with distinguishing between good and evil in the world, between right and wrong human actions, and between virtuous and nonvirtuous characteristics of people.

Derived Forms

• ˈethicist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ethics¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English ethic + -s ³, modeled on Greek tà ēthiká, neuter plural

Synonym Study

See moral.