ethical
morally right or principled
Doing what is right and fair, and not hurting or cheating other people.
an ethical [person/decision/action]
- 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.
- 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.
relating to moral questions
About problems or questions where people must decide what is right or wrong.
ethical [issue/question/problem/dilemma]
- 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.
- 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.
socially responsible or fair-trade
Describing a company, product, or way of using money that tries not to hurt people, animals, or nature.
ethical [company/product/investment/brand]
- 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.
- 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.
- Base: ethical
ethical approval
1official 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.
- 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
1moral factors to think about
Things about right and wrong that you must think about before you decide or act.
- There are important ethical considerations when using real patient data in research.
- We delayed the project because of ethical considerations about privacy.
ethical consumerism
1buying based on moral concerns
The habit of buying or not buying products because of how they affect people, animals, or nature.
- 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
1Buying based on ethics
buying products from companies that you think behave responsibly
- 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
1hard choice between bad options
A situation where you must choose between two or more actions, and each action seems morally wrong in some way.
- 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
1written advice on moral conduct
Official advice or rules that tell people how to act in a right and fair way.
- The study was carried out under strict ethical guidelines.
- New ethical guidelines require researchers to get informed consent from all participants.
ethical hacking
1legal 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.
- 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
1possible moral results or effects
The ways an action or decision might be right or wrong, and what that could mean in the future.
- 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
1investing that follows moral rules
Using your money only in companies or projects that do not harm people, animals, or the environment.
- Ethical investment funds often avoid companies involved in weapons or fossil fuels.
- Many banks now offer ethical investment options for their customers.
ethical issue
1problem about what is right
A problem or question where people must decide what is right or wrong behavior.
- 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
1several problems about right and wrong
Many problems or questions about what is right or wrong behavior.
- The project was cancelled because of unresolved ethical issues.
- New technology often brings ethical issues that are hard to solve quickly.
ethical obligations
1duties based on morality
Things you must do because it is the right and fair thing, not just because of the law or rules.
- Doctors have ethical obligations to protect their patients' privacy.
- He felt an ethical obligation to report the safety problem.
ethical principles
1basic rules for moral decisions
The main ideas about right and wrong that guide how a person or group makes choices.
- 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
1agreed rules for moral conduct
Official or shared rules about what is right and wrong behavior in a group or job.
- All employees must follow the company's ethical standards.
- Professional associations often publish ethical standards for their members.