6/18/2015

Ethics|DefineEthicsatDictionary.com

Dictionary(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics)
Thesaurus(http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/ethics)
Translate(http://translate.reference.com/translate?query=ethics)

ethics

ethics

(http://static.sfdict.com/staticrep/dictaudio/E03/E0323000.mp3)

[ethiks]
Synonyms

Examples

WordOrigin

noun
1. (usedwithasingularorpluralverb)asystemofmoralprinciples:
theethicsofaculture.
2. (usedwithapluralverb)therulesofconductrecognizedinrespecttoaparticularclass
ofhumanactionsoraparticulargroup,culture,etc.:
medicalethicsChristianethics.
3. (usedwithapluralverb)moralprinciples,asofanindividual:
Hisethicsforbadebetrayalofaconfidence.
4. (usedwithasingularverb)thatbranchofphilosophydealingwithvaluesrelatingto
humanconduct,withrespecttotherightnessandwrongnessofcertainactionsandto
thegoodnessandbadnessofthemotivesandendsofsuchactions.
Compareaxiologicalethics(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/axiologicalethics),
deontologicalethics(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deontologicalethics).

Originofethics

Greek
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Greek)

14001450

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics

1/5

6/18/2015

Ethics|DefineEthicsatDictionary.com

(http://blog.dictionary.com/gr

Grayvs.gr
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/s)3,modeledonGreektthik,neuterplural
thedifferen
140050lateMiddleEnglishethic(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethic)+s

Synonyms
2.Seemoral(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/moral).

ethic

(http://static.sfdict.com/staticrep/dictaudio/E03/E0322500.mp3)

[ethik]
noun
1. thebodyofmoralprinciplesorvaluesgoverningordistinctiveofaparticularcultureor
group:
theChristianethicthetribalethicoftheZuni.
2. acomplexofmoralpreceptsheldorrulesofconductfollowedbyanindividual:
apersonalethic.

Origin
13501400MiddleEnglishethic,etic<Latinthicus<Greekthiks,equivalenttoth
(os)ethos(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethos)+ikosic
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ic)

Relatedforms
nonethic,adjective

Dictionary.comUnabridged
BasedontheRandomHouseDictionary,RandomHouse,Inc.2015.
CiteThisSource(http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=ethics&ia=luna)

Examplesfromthewebforethics
TheGreekphilosopherdidethicsandtragedy,surebuthealsoinventedscienceasweknowit.
WhyAristotleDeservesAPosthumousNobel(http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/18/why
(http://www.thedailybeast.com?
aristotledeservesaposthumousnobel.html?source=dictionary)
source=dictionary)

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics

2/5

6/18/2015

Ethics|DefineEthicsatDictionary.com

NickRomeo(http://www.thedailybeast.com/contributors/nickromeo.html?source=dictionary)
October17,2014
Ibetitcomesupinthedebate[Monday]asaquestionofObamaethics.
ObamaAidesPissedOffAboutAnitaDunn(http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/22/obama
(http://www.thedailybeast.com?
aidespissedoffaboutanitadunn.html?source=dictionary)
source=dictionary)
JamesWarren(http://www.thedailybeast.com/contributors/jameswarren.html?source=dictionary)
October21,2012
Therawmaterialsforethics,heargues,havebeenpresentinthenaturalworldsincebeforehumanity.
WhatCanAnimalsTeachUsAboutOurMorality?(http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/05/what
(http://www.thedailybeast.com?
cananimalsteachusaboutourmorality.html?source=dictionary)
source=dictionary)
RobertHerritt(http://www.thedailybeast.com/contributors/robertherritt.html?source=dictionary)
April4,2013

BritishDictionarydefinitionsforethics

ethics
/ks/
noun
1. (functioningassing)thephilosophicalstudyofthemoralvalueofhumanconductand
oftherulesandprinciplesthatoughttogovernitmoralphilosophySeealsometaethics
(/browse/metaethics)
2. (functioningaspl)asocial,religious,orcivilcodeofbehaviourconsideredcorrect,esp
thatofaparticulargroup,profession,orindividual
3. (functioningaspl)themoralfitnessofadecision,courseofaction,etc:hedoubted
theethicsoftheirverdict

DerivedForms
ethicist,noun

ethic
/k/

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics

3/5

6/18/2015

Ethics|DefineEthicsatDictionary.com

noun
1. amoralprincipleorsetofmoralvaluesheldbyanindividualorgroup:thePuritanethic

adjective
2. anotherwordforethical(/browse/ethical)

Seealsoethics(/browse/ethics)

WordOrigin
C15:fromLatinthicus,fromGreekthikos,fromthoscustomseeethos

CollinsEnglishDictionaryComplete&Unabridged2012DigitalEdition
WilliamCollinsSons&Co.Ltd.1979,1986HarperCollins
Publishers1998,2000,2003,2005,2006,2007,2009,2012
CiteThisSource(http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=ethics&ia=ced2)

WordOriginandHistoryforethics
n.

"thescienceofmorals,"c.1600,pluralofMiddleEnglishethik"studyofmorals"(seeethic
(/browse/ethic)).ThewordalsotracestoTaEthika,titleofAristotle'swork.

ethic
n.

late14c.,ethik"studyofmorals,"fromOldFrenchetique(13c.),fromLateLatinethica,
fromGreekethikephilosophia"moralphilosophy,"fem.ofethikos"ethical,"fromethos
"moralcharacter,"relatedtoethos"custom"(seeethos(/browse/ethos)).Meaning"a
person'smoralprinciples"isattestedfrom1650s.
OnlineEtymologyDictionary,2010DouglasHarper
CiteThisSource(http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=ethics&ia=etymon2)

ethicsinMedicine

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics

4/5

6/18/2015

Ethics|DefineEthicsatDictionary.com

ethicsethics(th'ks)
n.
Therulesorstandardsgoverningtheconductofapersonortheconductofthemembersofa
profession.
TheAmericanHeritageStedman'sMedicalDictionary
Copyright2002,2001,1995byHoughtonMifflinCompany.PublishedbyHoughtonMifflinCompany.
CiteThisSource(http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=ethics&ia=ahsmd)

ethicsinCulture

ethicsdefinition
Thebranchofphilosophy(/browse/philosophy)thatdealswithmorality.Ethicsisconcernedwith
distinguishingbetweengoodandevilintheworld,betweenrightandwronghumanactions,and
betweenvirtuousandnonvirtuouscharacteristicsofpeople.
TheAmericanHeritageNewDictionaryofCulturalLiteracy,ThirdEdition
Copyright2005byHoughtonMifflinCompany.
PublishedbyHoughtonMifflinCompany.Allrightsreserved.
CiteThisSource(http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=ethics&ia=ahcl)

ethicsinTechnology
computerethics(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/computerethics)
TheFreeOnlineDictionaryofComputing,DenisHowe2010http://foldoc.org(http://foldoc.org)
CiteThisSource(http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=ethics&ia=foldoc)

About(http://content.dictionary.com/) Terms(http://dictionary.reference.com/help/terms.html)
Privacy(http://dictionary.reference.com/privacy) Careers(http://content.dictionary.com/about/careers)
Apps(http://dictionary.reference.com/apps) Help(http://dictionary.reference.com/help)
Feedback(http://content.dictionary.com/about/contact)

2015Dictionary.com,LLC.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics

5/5