ethics Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
    ethical motive; morals; morality.
  2. noun the philosophical study of moral values and rules
    moral philosophy.
  3. noun the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group
    ethic; value-system; value orientation; moral principle.
    • the Puritan ethic
    • a person with old-fashioned values
  4. noun a system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct
    ethic; ethical code.

WordNet

Eth"ics noun
Etymology
Cf. F. éthique. See Ethic.
Definitions
  1. The science of human duty; the body of rules of duty drawn from this science; a particular system of principles and rules concerting duty, whether true or false; rules of practice in respect to a single class of human actions; as, political or social ethics; medical ethics.
    The completeness and consistency of its morality is the peculiar praise of the ethics which the Bible has taught. I. Taylor.

Webster 1913