ethic

eth·ic  (thk)

n.

1.

a. A set of principles of right conduct.

b. A theory or a system of moral values: "An ethic of service is at war with a craving for gain" Gregg Easterbrook.

2. ethics (used with a sing. verb) The study of the general nature of morals and of the specific moral choices to be made by a person; moral philosophy.

3. ethics (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession: medical ethics.

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[Middle English ethik, from Old French ethique (from Late Latin thica, from Greek thika, ethics) and from Latin thic (from Greek thik), both from Greek thikos, ethical, from thos, character; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.]

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ethic

Noun

a moral principle or set of moral values held by an individual or group [Greek ēthos custom]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	ethic - the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group; "the Puritan ethic"; "a person with old-fashioned values" moral principle, value orientation, value-system principle - a rule or standard especially of good behavior; "a man of principle"; "he will not violate his principles" Chartism - the principles of a body of 19th century English reformers who advocated better social and economic conditions for working people
	2.	ethic - a system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct ethical code system of rules, system - a complex of methods or rules governing behavior; "they have to operate under a system they oppose"; "that language has a complex system for indicating gender" precept, principle - rule of personal conduct double standard - an ethical or moral code that applies more strictly to one group than to another