Origin: Latin suffix -al
Ethical has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
An ethical drug, one only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.
"The pharmacist explained that the opioid he was about to fill is an ethical drug and could not be obtained without his doctor's signature."
"The company faced an ethical dilemma when they had to choose between making a profit and protecting their workers."
Usage: Use "ethical" as an adjective to describe something conforming to moral principles, not as a noun. When referring specifically to a medication sold only with a doctor's order, use the phrase "an ethical drug" or simply "a prescription drug."
conforming to accepted standards of social or professional behavior
"an ethical lawyer"
"ethical medical practice"
"an ethical problem"
"had no ethical objection to drinking"
"Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants"
adhering to ethical and moral principles
"it seems ethical and right"
"followed the only honorable course of action"
Of or relating to the study of ethics.
"The university hired a professor specializing in ethical philosophy to teach their new course on moral reasoning."
In plain English: Ethical means doing the right thing and being honest even when no one is watching.
"The company is known for its ethical treatment of workers."
Usage: Use "ethical" to describe actions that are morally right and honest, rather than simply referring to the academic study of ethics. It is most commonly applied to behavior, decisions, or standards that align with accepted principles of good conduct.
The word "ethical" comes from the Late Latin ethicus and ultimately traces back to Ancient Greek, where it originally described something related to a person's character or moral nature. It entered English by combining the root for morals with the suffix -al to form an adjective meaning "of or relating to ethics."