ethic

English

Alternative forms

• ethick (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛθ.ɪk/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Middle English etik, from Late Latin ēthicus, from Ancient Greek ἠθῐκός (ēthikós).

Adjective

ethic (comparative more ethic, superlative most ethic)

1. Moral, relating to morals.

See also

• ethic dative

Etymology 2

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

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.

   The Protestant work ethic.

   I think the golden rule is a great ethic.

2. The morality of an action. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Usage notes

Sometimes confused with ethnic.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• consistent life ethic
• ethic of reciprocity
• evolutionary ethic
• Protestant ethic
• work ethic

Related terms

• ethical
• ethics
• ethos

Further reading

• “ethic”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “ethic”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “ethic”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• Citeh, etchi, theic