ethical
gb/ˈɛθɪkəl/ us/ˈɛθɪkəl/
B2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
morally right or principled
Doing what is right and fair, and not hurting or cheating other people.
Usage pattern:
an ethical [person/decision/action]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'ethical' with 'legal'. Something can be legal but not ethical, or ethical but not legal. Another common mistake is using 'ethic' instead of 'ethical', for example writing 'He is an ethic person' instead of 'He is an ethical person'.
Synonyms
moral (Very close in meaning, but slightly broader and more general; often used about personal beliefs as well as actions.)
|
principled (Emphasizes strong personal rules and consistency in doing what is right.)
|
upright (More literary or formal; stresses honesty and good character.)
Antonyms
unethical (Direct opposite; describes behavior that clearly breaks moral or professional rules.)
|
immoral (Suggests strongly wrong or bad behavior according to moral standards.)
Collocations
ethical behavior
|ethical standards
|ethical decision
|ethical leadership
|ethical obligation
|ethical conduct
Themes
values
|society
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many people feel it is not ethical to test new products on animals.
- She is known as an ethical lawyer who will not lie for her clients.
- The committee questioned whether it was ethical to use customer data without clear consent.
- He refused the gift because he did not think it was ethical to accept it from a supplier.
Learner examples
- I do not think it is ethical to lie to your friends.
- The company wants to be ethical and pay all workers a fair wage.
- She is very ethical and always tries to do the right thing.
- They asked if it was ethical to use this kind of test on people.
adjective
B2
property
2
relating to moral questions
About problems or questions where people must decide what is right or wrong.
Usage pattern:
ethical [issue/question/problem/dilemma]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'ethic' instead of 'ethical' in phrases like 'ethical issues' or 'ethical questions'. Remember that 'ethics' is the noun (usually uncountable), and 'ethical' is the adjective.
Synonyms
moral (Can be used in many of the same phrases, but 'ethical' is more common in academic, medical, and business contexts.)
|
normative (Technical and academic; used mainly in philosophy and social sciences to talk about value judgments.)
Antonyms
practical (Often used as a contrast, focusing on what works in real life rather than what is right or wrong.)
Collocations
ethical issues
|ethical dilemma
|ethical concerns
|ethical considerations
|ethical questions
|ethical debate
Themes
values
|science
|law
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The film raises important ethical questions about the use of artificial intelligence.
- Researchers must think carefully about the ethical issues involved in studying children.
- There is an ongoing ethical debate about assisted dying in many countries.
- New technologies often create ethical dilemmas that the law has not yet addressed.
Learner examples
- The doctor talked about the ethical problems of this new treatment.
- We discussed the ethical issues of using cameras in all public places.
- There is an ethical question here, not just a money problem.
- The professor asked the class to write about an ethical dilemma from their own lives.
unknown
C1
property
3
socially responsible or fair-trade
Describing a company, product, or way of using money that tries not to hurt people, animals, or nature.
Usage pattern:
ethical [company/product/investment/brand]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this meaning is often limited to business, products, and money choices. Saying 'an ethical T-shirt' is less clear than 'an ethical clothing brand' or 'ethically produced T-shirt'.
Synonyms
responsible (Stresses care for social and environmental effects, but can be less specific about moral rules.)
|
sustainable (Focuses more on long-term environmental impact than on wider moral issues like workers' rights.)
|
fair-trade (Usually refers specifically to paying producers fairly, especially in developing countries.)
Antonyms
exploitative (Highlights unfair use of people or resources for profit.)
|
unethical (General opposite, suggesting the business or product clearly breaks moral or professional rules.)
Collocations
ethical business
|ethical brand
|ethical investment
|ethical consumerism
|ethical sourcing
|ethical supply chain
Themes
business
|environment
|values
|finance
|nature
Examples
- Consumers are increasingly looking for ethical brands that treat workers fairly.
- He moved his savings into an ethical investment fund that avoids arms companies and fossil fuels.
- The company promotes itself as an ethical business that uses only ethically sourced materials.
- Some people are willing to pay more for coffee if they know it comes from ethical producers.
Learner examples
- She tries to buy clothes from ethical companies.
- My bank offers an ethical investment option.
- They want to build an ethical business that helps local workers.
- More people now care if their food is from ethical farms.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ethical
IPA
GB/ˈɛθɪkəl/
US/ˈɛθɪkəl/
Syllables & stress
eth - ic - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (eth)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ethical
Word family
Expressions
ethical approval
1/ˈɛθɪkəl əpɹˈuvəl/
fixed phrase
technical
official permission on ethics grounds
Official permission from a special group that says a study or project follows the rules about what is right and fair.
Examples
- The researchers could not start the trial until they received ethical approval.
- Ethical approval is required for any study involving human subjects at this university.
ethical considerations
1/ˈɛθɪkəl kənsˌɪdɚˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
moral factors to think about
Things about right and wrong that you must think about before you decide or act.
Examples
- There are important ethical considerations when using real patient data in research.
- We delayed the project because of ethical considerations about privacy.
ethical consumerism
1/ˈɛθɪkəl kənsˈumɚˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
buying based on moral concerns
The habit of buying or not buying products because of how they affect people, animals, or nature.
Examples
- Ethical consumerism has pushed many companies to improve working conditions in their factories.
- She teaches a course on ethical consumerism and sustainable lifestyles.
ethical consumerism
1/ˈɛθɪkəl kənsˈumɚˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
Buying based on ethics
buying products from companies that you think behave responsibly
Examples
- Ethical consumerism has increased demand for fair-trade coffee and cruelty-free cosmetics.
- The campaign encourages ethical consumerism by publishing information about supply chains.
- Some critics argue that ethical consumerism puts too much responsibility on individual shoppers.
ethical dilemma
1/ˈɛθɪkəl dɪlˈɛmə/
fixed phrase
hard choice between bad options
A situation where you must choose between two or more actions, and each action seems morally wrong in some way.
Examples
- Doctors often face an ethical dilemma when a patient's wishes conflict with their family's wishes.
- The journalist found herself in an ethical dilemma over whether to publish the leaked documents.
- Lying to protect a friend can create an ethical dilemma for many people.
ethical guidelines
1/ˈɛθɪkəl ɡˈaɪdlˌaɪnz/
fixed phrase
written advice on moral conduct
Official advice or rules that tell people how to act in a right and fair way.
Examples
- The study was carried out under strict ethical guidelines.
- New ethical guidelines require researchers to get informed consent from all participants.
ethical hacking
1/ˈɛθɪkəl hˈækɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
legal hacking to test security
Checking computer systems for weak points by trying to break in, but with permission and in order to make them safer.
Examples
- The company hired a team that specializes in ethical hacking to check their network.
- He took a course in ethical hacking and now works as a security consultant.
ethical implications
1/ˈɛθɪkəl ˌɪmplɪkˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
possible moral results or effects
The ways an action or decision might be right or wrong, and what that could mean in the future.
Examples
- We need to think carefully about the ethical implications of using AI in hiring.
- The report explains the ethical implications of genetic editing.
ethical investment
1/ˈɛθɪkəl ɪnvˈɛstmənt/
fixed phrase
investing that follows moral rules
Using your money only in companies or projects that do not harm people, animals, or the environment.
Examples
- Ethical investment funds often avoid companies involved in weapons or fossil fuels.
- Many banks now offer ethical investment options for their customers.
ethical issue
1/ˈɛθɪkəl ˈɪʃu/
fixed phrase
problem about what is right
A problem or question where people must decide what is right or wrong behavior.
Examples
- Using facial recognition in public places raises serious ethical issues.
- The committee met to discuss the ethical issues involved in testing the drug on children.
ethical issues
1/ˈɛθɪkəl ˈɪʃuz/
fixed phrase
several problems about right and wrong
Many problems or questions about what is right or wrong behavior.
Examples
- The project was cancelled because of unresolved ethical issues.
- New technology often brings ethical issues that are hard to solve quickly.
ethical obligations
1/ˈɛθɪkəl ˌɑbləɡˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
duties based on morality
Things you must do because it is the right and fair thing, not just because of the law or rules.
Examples
- Doctors have ethical obligations to protect their patients' privacy.
- He felt an ethical obligation to report the safety problem.
ethical principles
1/ˈɛθɪkəl pɹˈɪnsəpəlz/
fixed phrase
basic rules for moral decisions
The main ideas about right and wrong that guide how a person or group makes choices.
Examples
- Her ethical principles would not allow her to hide the truth.
- The policy was designed according to basic ethical principles such as fairness and respect.
ethical standards
1/ˈɛθɪkəl stˈændɚdz/
fixed phrase
agreed rules for moral conduct
Official or shared rules about what is right and wrong behavior in a group or job.
Examples
- All employees must follow the company's ethical standards.
- Professional associations often publish ethical standards for their members.