/ ˈeθɪk; NAmE / noun
1.
ethics [ pl. ] moral principles that control or influence a person's behaviour :
professional / business / medical ethics
to draw up a code of ethics
He began to question the ethics of his position.
2.
[ sing. ] a system of moral principles or rules of behaviour :
a strongly defined work ethic
the Protestant ethic
3.
ethics [ U ] the branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (denoting ethics or moral philosophy; also used attributively): from Old French éthique , from Latin ethice , from Greek (hē) ēthikē (tekhnē) (the science of) morals, based on ēthos nature, disposition, (plural) customs.