ethically
gb/ˈɛθɪkəli/ us/ˈɛθɪkəli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
in a morally right way
in a good and honest way
Usage pattern:
act ethically; behave ethically; treat [someone] ethically
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use ethically where legally is meant; something can be legal but not ethical.
Synonyms
morally (More common and slightly broader in everyday speech.)
|
honorably (Emphasizes personal integrity and character.)
|
fairly (Focuses on justice and equal treatment.)
Antonyms
unethically (In a way that breaks moral principles or accepted standards.)
|
immorally (Stronger and more judgmental; suggests serious moral wrongdoing.)
Collocations
act ethically
|behave ethically
|operate ethically
|treat people ethically
|trade ethically
|invest ethically
|do the right thing ethically
|ethically right
|ethically wrong
|ethically unacceptable
Themes
ethics
|behavior
|society
Examples
- The company promised to act ethically and be transparent about its pricing.
- You can disagree with her decision, but she tried to handle the situation ethically.
- He refused to use the information because it was obtained unethically.
Learner examples
- We should treat workers ethically.
- She wants to do business ethically.
adverb
formal
C1
rule
2
according to professional standards
following the rules of your job or profession
Usage pattern:
be required to act ethically; practice ethically; conduct research ethically
Common mistake:
Ethically does not mean skilled or effective; it refers to standards about what is right or acceptable.
Synonyms
responsibly (Emphasizes duty and careful decision-making, not only moral rules.)
|
professionally (Broader; can include etiquette and competence as well as ethics.)
Antonyms
unethically (Violating professional codes or responsibilities.)
Collocations
act ethically
|practice ethically
|conduct research ethically
|market ethically
|report ethically
|hire ethically
|ethically compliant
|ethically obligated
|ethically bound
|ethically permissible
Themes
work
|business
|law
|medicine
|ethics
Examples
- Researchers must obtain consent and treat participants ethically.
- As a lawyer, she is expected to act ethically even under pressure from clients.
- The board investigated whether the executives had behaved ethically.
Learner examples
- Doctors should treat patients ethically.
adverb
formal
C1
relation
3
from an ethical viewpoint
when thinking about right and wrong
Usage pattern:
Ethically, [clause]; [clause], ethically speaking
Common mistake:
In this use, ethically modifies the whole sentence (a comment on the viewpoint), not just one verb.
Synonyms
morally (More common; slightly less formal in this sentence-adverb use.)
|
in moral terms (Explicitly frames the viewpoint; more explanatory.)
Antonyms
practically (Contrasts moral judgment with what is useful or workable in real life.)
Collocations
ethically speaking
|ethically, it is difficult
|ethically, it is wrong
|ethically, it raises questions
|ethically, it matters
|ethically, we should
|ethically questionable
|ethically defensible
Themes
ethics
|opinions
|communication
Examples
- Ethically, I don’t think we should use that data without permission.
- Ethically speaking, the ad targets children in a way that feels manipulative.
- The plan might work financially, but ethically it’s hard to justify.
Learner examples
- Ethically, this feels wrong.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ethically
IPA
GB/ˈɛθɪkəli/
US/ˈɛθɪkəli/
Syllables & stress
eth - ic - ally (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (eth)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ethically
- Plural: ethicallies
Word family
Expressions
ethically defensible
1/ˈɛθɪkəli dɪfˈɛnsəbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
can be justified morally
can be explained as the right thing
Examples
- The committee decided the policy was ethically defensible given the evidence.
- It may be ethically defensible to limit access when resources are scarce.
- She tried to show that her decision was ethically defensible, not just legal.
ethically made
1/ˈɛθɪkəli mˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
produced with fair practices
made in a fair and safe way
Examples
- She looks for ethically made clothing instead of fast fashion.
- The company publishes factory audits to show its shoes are ethically made.
- Ethically made products often cost more because workers are paid fairly.
ethically questionable
1/ˈɛθɪkəli kwˈɛst͡ʃənəbəl/
fixed phrase
possibly against ethical standards
Used to say that something may go against accepted rules of good behavior in a job or field.
Examples
- Sharing patient information without consent is ethically questionable.
- The journalist refused to use sources in an ethically questionable way.
ethically questionable
1/ˈɛθɪkəli kwˈɛst͡ʃənəbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
possibly morally wrong
maybe wrong in a moral way
Examples
- It’s ethically questionable to advertise weight-loss products to teenagers.
- Using customer data without clear consent is ethically questionable.
- They avoided tactics that were legal but ethically questionable.
ethically responsible
1/ˈɛθɪkəli ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
showing moral responsibility
trying to do the right thing
Examples
- Investors are looking for ethically responsible companies.
- They chose the ethically responsible option, even though it was more expensive.
- The report argues for an ethically responsible approach to AI development.
ethically sourced
1/ˈɛθɪkəli sˈɔɹst/
fixed phrase
business
obtained in a responsible way
made or collected without harming people or nature
Examples
- The brand claims its cocoa is ethically sourced from small farms.
- Customers are asking more questions about whether diamonds are ethically sourced.
- We switched to ethically sourced coffee for the office.
ethically speaking
1/ˈɛθɪkəli spˈikɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
from a moral point of view
if we think about right and wrong
Examples
- Ethically speaking, they should tell users exactly how the algorithm works.
- Ethically speaking, you can’t take credit for someone else’s work.
- Ethically speaking, the benefits don’t justify the risks.