ethical
adjective
eth·i·cal
ˈe-thi-kəl 
variants
or less commonly ethic
1
: of or relating to ethics
ethical theories
2
: involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval
ethical judgments
3
: conforming to accepted standards of conduct
ethical behavior
4
medical, of a drug
: restricted to sale only with a doctor's prescription
Examples of ethical in a Sentence
Some doctors feel that this procedure is not medically ethical.
the ethical behavior expected of every member of the police force
Recent Examples on the Web
The script hides serious moral and ethical conversations about fame, political violence, and powerful institutions amongst jokes about hashbrowns.
—
Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026
Sales should be ethical and in the buyer’s best interest.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
The winners are those organizations that obsess over customer value, empower employees, and resist financial gravity through strong mission lock and ethical governance.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
The East Wing’s demolition and 999-seat ballroom — now projected at $600 million — are fueling legal, ethical and security fights over who pays and what protections are truly needed.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ethical
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Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026
Sales should be ethical and in the buyer’s best interest.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
The winners are those organizations that obsess over customer value, empower employees, and resist financial gravity through strong mission lock and ethical governance.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
The East Wing’s demolition and 999-seat ballroom — now projected at $600 million — are fueling legal, ethical and security fights over who pays and what protections are truly needed.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ethical
Cite this Entry
“Ethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethical. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ethical
adjective
eth·i·cal
ˈeth-i-kəl
1
: of or relating to ethics
2
a
: following accepted rules of conduct
b
: following professional standards of conduct
3
: sold only on a doctor's prescription
ethical drugs
Medical Definition
ethical
1 of 2 adjective
eth·i·cal
ˈeth-i-kəl
variants
also ethic
1
: conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct
2
of a drug
: restricted to sale only on a doctor's prescription
ethical
2 of 2 noun
: an ethical drug
Legal Definition
ethical
adjective
eth·i·cal
ˈe-thi-kəl
1
: of or relating to ethics
2
: conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct
ethically
adverb
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