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
But ethical, critical thinking and aesthetics survive in the Midyear Reckoning.
—
Armond White, National Review, 12 July 2024
Mann spoke with Variety at length about AI fear and loathing in show business, building an ethical code and the brain mechanics of the Uncanny Valley.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 11 July 2024
But one thing is clear — the conversation around ethical accountability and representation in music production is far from over.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
His message of love, forgiveness and humility transcends cultural and temporal boundaries, offering a timeless blueprint for ethical living.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for ethical 
Armond White, National Review, 12 July 2024
Mann spoke with Variety at length about AI fear and loathing in show business, building an ethical code and the brain mechanics of the Uncanny Valley.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 11 July 2024
But one thing is clear — the conversation around ethical accountability and representation in music production is far from over.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
His message of love, forgiveness and humility transcends cultural and temporal boundaries, offering a timeless blueprint for ethical living.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for ethical
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ethical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ethical
Cite this Entry
“Ethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethical. Accessed 20 Jul. 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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