n.
Pronunciation: ' e-thik
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ethik, from Middle French ethique, from Latin ethice, from Greek ē thik ē , from ē thikos
Date: 14th century
1 plural but singular or plural in construction : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation
2 a : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values <the present-day materialistic ethic > <an old-fashioned work ethic > ― often used in plural but singular or plural in construction <an elaborate ethic s > <Christian ethic s > b plural but singular or plural in construction : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group <professional ethic s > c : a guiding philosophy d : a consciousness of moral importance <forge a conservation ethic >
3 plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness) <debated the ethic s of human cloning>