ethical
adjective
eth·i·cal
ˈe-thi-kəl 
variants
or less commonly ethic
1
: of or relating to ethics
ethical theories
2
: involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval
ethical judgments
3
: conforming to accepted standards of conduct
ethical behavior
4
of a drug
: restricted to sale only on a doctor's prescription
Synonyms
Examples of ethical in a Sentence
Some doctors feel that this procedure is not medically ethical.
the ethical behavior expected of every member of the police force
Recent Examples on the Web
Second, most congressional Republicans have abandoned ethical norms.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
The Supreme Court’s deference to FDR during World War II resulted in unjustifiable ethical breaches, but its new code of conduct has not resolved the question of when a justice should be disqualified from a case.
—Jed S. Rakoff, The New York Review of Books, 14 Nov. 2024
The line between ethical imperative and basic survival strategy has long since been chipped away.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Dear Green Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee company based in Glasgow, is making waves in the industry with its commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing.
—Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ethical 
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Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
The Supreme Court’s deference to FDR during World War II resulted in unjustifiable ethical breaches, but its new code of conduct has not resolved the question of when a justice should be disqualified from a case.
—Jed S. Rakoff, The New York Review of Books, 14 Nov. 2024
The line between ethical imperative and basic survival strategy has long since been chipped away.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Dear Green Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee company based in Glasgow, is making waves in the industry with its commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing.
—Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ethical
Dictionary Entries Near ethical
Cite this Entry
“Ethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethical. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ethical
adjective
eth·i·cal
ˈeth-i-kəl
1
: of or relating to ethics
2
a
: following accepted rules of conduct
b
: following professional standards of conduct
3
: sold only on a doctor's prescription
ethical drugs
Medical Definition
ethical
1 of 2 adjective
eth·i·cal
ˈeth-i-kəl
variants
also ethic
1
: conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct
2
of a drug
: restricted to sale only on a doctor's prescription
ethical
2 of 2 noun
: an ethical drug
Legal Definition
ethical
adjective
eth·i·cal
ˈe-thi-kəl
1
: of or relating to ethics
2
: conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct
ethically
adverb
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