Dictionary / ethics
ethics
- noun
- from Middle French
Morality.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “ethics” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun
- countableuncountableMorality.
Her decision was guided by her strong personal ethics.
- countableuncountableThe standards that govern the conduct of a person, especially a member of a profession.
The professor teaches a course on business ethics.
- countableuncountableThe study of principles relating to right and wrong conduct.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (2)
- nounmotivation based on ideas of right and wrong — also: ethical motive, morals, morality
- nounthe philosophical study of moral values and rules — also: moral philosophy
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)ethics
- Middle Englishetik
- Middle Frenchethique
- Late Latinethica
- Ancient Greekἠθική (ēthikḗ)
- Ancient Greekἠθικός (ēthikós) “of or for morals, moral, expressing character”
- Ancient Greekἦθος (êthos) “character, moral nature”
From Middle English etik, from Middle 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”).
Derivatives — words built from “ethics”
Phrases & compounds
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “ethics” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “ethics” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
ethics n. [Cf. F. . See Ethic.]
- The science of human duty; the body of rules of duty drawn from this science; a particular system of principles and rules concerting duty, whether true or false; rules of practice in respect to a single class of human actions; as, political or social ethics; medical ethics.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: Morality.
Her decision was guided by her strong personal ethics.
nounMeaning: The standards that govern the conduct of a person, especially a member of a profession.
The professor teaches a course on business ethics.
Medical ethics require doctors to prioritize patient welfare.
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
ethics
/ˈɛθ.ɪks/
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
ethics
/ˈɛθ.ɪks/ · noun
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “ethics” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — Which meaning is it?
“Her decision was guided by her strong personal ethics.”
Circle the meaning used.
“The professor teaches a course on business ethics.”
Circle the meaning used.
Step 4 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “ethics” and what each means:
Step 5 — Original meaning
The earliest traceable form is Ancient Greek ἦθος. What did it mean?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 6 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — ethics
Which meaning, sentence 1: B. Morality.
Which meaning, sentence 2: C. The standards that govern the conduct of a person, especially a member of a profession.
Origin: B. Middle French (Middle French ethique)
Journey: English ethics ← Middle English etik ← Middle French ethique ← Late Latin ethica ← Ancient Greek ἠθική ← Ancient Greek ἠθικός ← Ancient Greek ἦθος
Some derivatives: algorethics, astroethics, cyberethics, ethicist, genethics, geoethics, nanoethics, neuroethics
Original meaning: Ancient Greek ἦθος — “character, moral nature”
Etymology: From Middle English etik, from Middle 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”).
Sources: Wiktionary “ethics” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ethics#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/ethics