# ethical

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɛθɪkəl/ · frequency rank #6,355

## Definitions
1. Of or relating to the study of ethics.
2. Of or relating to the accepted principles of right and wrong, especially those of some organization or profession.
3. Morally approvable; good.
4. Only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.

## Etymology
From ethic + -al, from Late Latin ethicus (“moral, ethical”), from Ancient Greek ἠθικός (ēthikós, “of or for morals, moral, expressing character”), from ἦθος (êthos, “character, moral nature”).

## Easily confused with
- **ethics** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ethical-vs-ethics)
- **ethically** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ethical-vs-ethically)
- **ethic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ethic-vs-ethical)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ehtical`, `ethcial`, `ethhical`, `ethiacl`, `ethicall`, `ethiccal`, `ethicla`, `etihcal`, `etthical`, `tehical`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ethical