ethics

ethics — idiom

1. the branch of philosophy that examines moral principles and seeks to answer ques

1.idiomB2
Definition

the branch of philosophy that examines moral principles and seeks to answer questions about right and wrong conduct, exploring how people should behave and what actions are considered good or bad.

Example

Rodrigo's university requires all business students to take a course in ethics.

course in ethics — common academic phrase

The ethics committee rejected the research proposal because it put the volunteers at risk.

ethics committee — common compound noun

Common collocations
  • ethics committee
  • ethics of something
  • medical ethics
  • business ethics
  • research ethics
  • professional ethics
  • personal ethics
  • code of ethics
  • ethics course
  • ethics review
  • question of ethics
  • against someone's ethics
Synonyms
  • morality

    broader term; can refer to personal, religious or cultural codes rather than a formal system of study

  • moral philosophy

    emphasises the philosophical tradition and theoretical framework more than practical application

  • moral values

    focuses on the specific beliefs and standards a person holds, rather than the academic discipline

Grammar Patterns

ethics + of + noun/gerund

adjective + ethics (e.g. medical ethics)

Usage Note

Uncountable noun that always takes a singular verb, despite the -s ending. Frequently modified by a domain adjective (e.g. medical ethics, business ethics, legal ethics). The phrase 'ethics committee' is a standard compound in professional contexts.

Common Mistakes

I studied ethic at university.
I studied ethics at university.
'ethics' is an uncountable noun and keeps the -s spelling even when referring to the single subject.
Ethics are an important part of medicine.
Ethics is an important part of medicine.
although it ends in -s, 'ethics' as a field takes a singular verb.

Synonym discussion

Sense: idiom/1

While 'ethics', 'morality', and 'moral philosophy' all concern questions of right and wrong, they differ in scope and context. 'Ethics' as an academic discipline names the systematic study of moral principles — what a university department or scholarly journal would label. 'Morality' is a broader, less formal term that covers the personal, religious, or cultural codes an individual follows, without implying systematic philosophical study. 'Moral philosophy' overlaps heavily with ethics but emphasises the theoretical and historical tradition (think of Kant, Aristotle, or Mill). For example: a doctor studies medical ethics (the field); that same doctor's personal morality might lead them to refuse a procedure; and a course in moral philosophy would trace how thinkers have approached these questions over centuries.

morality ↗moral philosophymoral values

Etymology

Ancient GreekLatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'ethics' comes from the Greek 'ēthikē' (ἠθική), the feminine form of 'ēthikos', meaning 'relating to moral character'. This was derived from 'ēthos' (ἦθος), which meant 'custom, habit, character'. The term passed into Latin as 'ethica' and entered Middle English through Old French 'ethique' in the late 14th century. Originally it referred to the science of morals, and over time it came to name the entire philosophical discipline.