ethical

Academic Word List, sublist 9.

About 20.37 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Of or relating to the study of ethics.

   The philosopher Kant is particularly known for his ethical writings.

2. adjective Of or relating to the accepted principles of right and wrong, especially those of some organization or profession.

   All employees must familiarize themselves with our ethical guidelines.

3. adjective Morally approvable; good.

   We are trying to decide what the most ethical course of action would be.

4. adjective Only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.

   In most jurisdictions, morphine is classified as an ethical drug.

5. noun An ethical drug, one only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.

Similar words

moral honourable honorable right ethics deontological deontology ethos morality ethic

Often followed by

and issues standards principles theory problems considerations values dilemmas questions

Word family

ethic ethicalities ethicality ethically ethicalness ethicalnesses ethics