Meanings
ethic1
comparative more ethic · superlative most ethic · alternative ethick
- Moral, relating to morals.
ethic2
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group
nouna system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
ethic · adjective
- Ancient Greekἠθῐκός
- Late Latinēthicus
- Middle Englishetik
- Englishethic
From Middle English etik, from Late Latin ēthicus, from Ancient Greek ἠθῐκός (ēthĭkós).
More words from Middle English, Late Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →ethic · noun
- Ancient Greekἠθική
- Late Latinēthica
- Old Frenchethique
- Middle Englishetik
- Englishethic
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”).
More words from Middle English, Old French, Late Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
ethic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ethic
“ethic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ethic. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ethic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ethic.
Source: ethic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.