unethical

unethical — adjective

1. against accepted moral or professional rules about what is right and wrong — use

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

against accepted moral or professional rules about what is right and wrong — used especially to describe actions, decisions, or behavior that fail to meet the standards expected in a particular field or society.

Example

It is unethical for a lawyer to share a client's secrets without permission.

it is unethical for [someone] to [do something]

The board found that the CEO's secret deal with a competitor was completely unethical.

Common collocations
  • unethical behavior / conduct / practice / treatment
  • unethical methods / means
  • unethical labor practices
  • unethical business practices
  • unethical research practices
  • deeply / highly / completely unethical
  • considered unethical
  • it is unethical for someone to
Synonyms
  • immoral

    Broader in scope; covers personal moral failings beyond professional or social standards. Unethical is more commonly used for professional conduct.

  • unscrupulous

    Highlights a lack of moral principles rather than a specific action. An unscrupulous person is willing to act unfairly to gain an advantage.

  • dishonest

    Narrower — specifically about deception or lying. Unethical covers dishonest actions but also other kinds of wrongdoing.

  • corrupt

    Implies misuse of power or position for personal gain, often involving bribery. Stronger and more specific than unethical.

Antonyms
  • ethical

    Direct opposite; conforming to accepted moral and professional standards.

  • moral

    Broader in scope; refers to general principles of right and wrong rather than professional codes.

  • principled

    Implies acting according to strong, consistent ethical principles; more positive and proactive than ethical.

Grammar Patterns

it is unethical for [someone] to [do something]

[noun] was considered unethical

[noun] was unethical

Usage Note

Frequently used in formal contexts such as business, law, and academic writing. The word carries strong disapproval and implies a violation of shared standards, not merely a difference in personal opinion. The opposite ethical is more common in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

These business practices are unethical and therefore against the law.
These business practices are unethical, though not necessarily illegal.
Unethical means morally wrong; illegal means against the law. Many unethical actions are perfectly legal, and not all illegal actions are unethical.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe behavior that goes against moral standards, but they differ in scope and context. Unethical is the most precise term for violations of professional, legal, or social codes — a doctor taking bribes from a drug company is unethical. Immoral is broader and covers personal wrongdoing, such as betraying a friend's trust. Unscrupulous emphasizes the absence of moral hesitation — an unscrupulous journalist would publish a private letter without the writer's permission because it makes a better story. Corrupt is the strongest and most specific, implying that someone has abused a position of trust for personal gain, typically through bribery or fraud. A politician who takes money in exchange for votes is corrupt, which is both unethical and often illegal.

unethical ↗immoralunscrupulouscorrupt ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • unethical business practices
  • unethical conduct toward
  • it is unethical to
  • considered unethical

Prepositions

  • unethical for [someone]
  • unethical to [do something]

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') to 'ethical', which comes from the Greek word 'ēthikos' (relating to moral character). The Greek root 'ēthos' originally referred to a person's character or habitual nature, and later came to mean the moral principles that guide behavior. The word entered English from Late Latin 'ethicus' via Old French.