ETHIC

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ethic mean? 

• ETHIC (noun)
  The noun ETHIC has 2 senses:

1. the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group

2. a system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct

  Familiarity information: ETHIC used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ETHIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

ethic; moral principle; value-system; value orientation

Context example:

a person with old-fashioned values

Hypernyms ("ethic" is a kind of...):

principle (a rule or standard especially of good behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ethic"):

Chartism (the principles of a body of 19th century English reformers who advocated better social and economic conditions for working people)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

ethic; ethical code

Hypernyms ("ethic" is a kind of...):

system; system of rules (a complex of methods or rules governing behavior)

Meronyms (parts of "ethic"):

precept; principle (rule of personal conduct)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ethic"):

double standard (an ethical or moral code that applies more strictly to one group than to another)

 Context examples 

Rather was it some sense of law, an ethic of her race and early environment, that compelled her to interpose her body between her husband and the helpless murderer.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

If you work for others, your stellar work ethic will help you stand out among your colleagues, and when it comes time to give out promotions, you will make the shortlist of stars.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)