Ethical
/ˈɛθɪkəl/
Definitions
Conforming to accepted standards of conduct; morally right and good.
/ˈɛθɪkəl/
Relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these.
It is unethical to use someone's private information without their consent.
💡 Simply: It's about doing the right thing, following the rules of what's good and fair, like sharing your toys or telling the truth, even when it's hard. It's all about being a good person!
👶 For kids: Being ethical means doing what's right and fair, like being kind to others and not cheating.
More Examples
The company's ethical practices were praised by its employees.
The doctor made an ethical decision to prioritize the patient's well-being.
How It's Used
"Companies are expected to maintain ethical standards in their dealings."
"Ethical dilemmas often involve conflicting moral principles."
"The ethical implications of genetic engineering are widely debated."
Idioms & expressions
Ethical dilemma
A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable.
"The doctor faced an ethical dilemma when choosing between saving the mother or the child."
From Late Latin ethicus, from Greek ēthikos ('relating to character'), from ēthos ('character, moral nature').
The term 'ethical' has been used since the late 14th century, initially in reference to moral philosophy.
Memory tip
Think of a THICK moral code that guides your actions.
Word Origin
"character, moral nature"