ethics

C2+ Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

Also spelled ethicks

US /ˈɛθɪks/ UK /ˈɛθɪks/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
moral principles governing conduct, or the study thereof

The committee debated the ethics of the experiment.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · moral principles governing... morality morals principles values standardsscruples

Opposites

immorality

Word family

Derived forms ethicist

Related forms ethic ethical ethos

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ēthika 'moral philosophy', from ēthikos 'moral, showing character', from ēthos 'character, custom, disposition'.

ēthika Ancient Greek ēthos Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary

External links

# ethics

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɛθɪks/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɛθɪks/

## Meanings
1. moral principles governing conduct, or the study thereof

## Examples
- The committee debated the ethics of the experiment.

## Synonyms
- morality
- morals
- principles
- values
- standards
- scruples

## Antonyms
- immorality

## Derived Forms
- ethicist

## Related Forms
- ethic
- ethical
- ethos

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: ēthika
- Root: ēthos

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek ēthika 'moral philosophy', from ēthikos 'moral, showing character', from ēthos 'character, custom, disposition'.

## AI Etymology
Ethics comes from Ancient Greek ēthika 'moral philosophy', from ēthikos 'moral, showing character', from ēthos 'character, custom, disposition'. The historical trail runs through Ancient Greek ēthika and Ancient Greek ēthos. In modern use it means moral principles governing conduct, or the study thereof. Derived formations include ethicist; related forms include ethic, ethical, ethos.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- General Vocabulary

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