deontological

Meanings

adjectivedeontological (comparative more deontological, superlative most deontological)

ethicsOf or relating to deontology.
Deontological theories hold that there are ethical propositions of the form: 'Such and such a kind of action would always be right (or wrong) in such and such circumstances, no matter what its consequences might be.'
1930, C. D. Broad, Five Types of Ethical Theory, 206f
Antonyms: non-deontological

adjectiveOf or relating to deontology.

Opposite

From deontology + -ical (1832). The specialised sense in normative ethics is due to C. D. Broad (1930).

Catalan deontològic

Dutch deontologisch

French déontologique

German deontologisch

Greek δεοντολογικός

Italian deontologico

Polish deontologiczny

Portuguese deontológico

Spanish deontológico

Swedish deontologisk

Cite this entry

APA

deontological. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deontological

MLA

“deontological.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deontological. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deontological,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deontological.