ethical

ethical is on the Academic Word List.

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈɛθɪkəl/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

Positive ethical

Comparative more ethical

Superlative most ethical

1. (usually before a noun) An ethical issue, problem, etc. relates to questions of good or bad, right or wrong.

   Doctors have to think about both the medical and ethical parts of the problem.

2. If something is ethical, it is good, not bad or wrong. Often, this is based on formal philosophy. Often, what is ethical is based on rules of a group or profession (kind of job).

   Is it really ethical to eat meat?

Synonyms

• good
• right

Antonyms

• unethical
• immoral

Related words

• ethic
• ethics
• ethically
• moral