Standard Lemma guide

unethical

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ʌnˈɛθɪkəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N EH1 TH IH0 K AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Breaching the established standards of conduct or behavior within a particular organization or profession.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He was sacked for unethical conduct.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Immoral, morally wrong.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: aberrant, corrupt, corrupted, depraved, dirty-handed, dissolute, effete, errant, indecent, indecorous, immodest, immoral, improper, incontinent, iniquitous, iniquous, licentious, nought, obscene, perverse, perverted, profligate, reprobate, unduteous, undutiful, unethical, ungodly, unjust, unprincipled, unrighteous, unseemly, unscrupulous, unworthy, wrong

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • unethical business practices

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: ethical

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English ethical English unethical From un- + ethical.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: etikátlan — breaching professional standards
  • Italian: contrario all'etica professionale — breaching professional standards
  • Māori: makihuhunu — breaching professional standards