Ethics
noun /ˈɛθɪks/ — The philosophy of how to live and act well — asking what is right, and why.
Definition
The branch of philosophy dealing with questions of moral principle; the moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior; standards of right and wrong.
Beyond the definition
Ethics is the discipline of the question that never gets to be answered once and left — it must be asked again in each new situation. The truly ethical person isn't the one who follows a code; it's the one who reasons carefully in real time.
Origin & history
From Greek ethika — relating to moral character (from ethos: custom, character). What belongs to character. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics begins the formal study.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Medical ethics doesn't just answer hard questions; it teaches you how to hold them long enough to think clearly.
She applied her ethics not as a filter but as a foundation — the assumptions everything else was built on.
The ethics of a decision often become visible only after it's made — which is one of ethics' recurring frustrations.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Ethics” when the meaning fits your context: The branch of philosophy dealing with questions of moral principle; the moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior; standards of right and wrong.
Synonyms
morality, moral philosophy, principles, values, ethos
Antonyms
amorality, nihilism
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Person reflecting on consumer choices
A person feels conflicted, looking between a reusable cloth bag and plastic-wrapped purchases next to a plant.
The uncomfortable expression illustrates a struggle with values. This represents the internal philosophical work of considering what is right or wrong in personal behavior and environmental responsibility.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Ethics" mean?
Ethics is noun meaning: The philosophy of how to live and act well — asking what is right, and why.. The branch of philosophy dealing with questions of moral principle; the moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior; standards of right and wrong.
Where does the word "Ethics" come from?
From Greek ethika — relating to moral character (from ethos: custom, character). What belongs to character. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics begins the formal study.