ethic

English

Alternative forms

• ethick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old French ethique, from Late Latin ethica, from Ancient Greek ἠθική (ēthikḗ), from ἠθικός (ēthikós, “of or for morals, moral, expressing character”), from ἦθος (êthos, “character, moral nature”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛθɪk/

Adjective

ethic (comparative more ethic, superlative most ethic)

1. Moral, relating to morals.

Noun

ethic (plural ethics)

1. A set of principles of right and wrong behaviour guiding, or representative of, a specific culture, society, group, or individual.

   I think the golden rule is a great ethic.

2. The morality of an action.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• ethic of reciprocity
• evolutionary ethic

• Protestant ethic
• work ethic

Related terms

• ethical
• ethics
• ethos

See also

• ethic dative

Further reading

• ethic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• ethic in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• ethic at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• etchi