Business Ethics Vocabulary

verb to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty

• The spy decided to betray his country and share classified information with the enemy.
• I can't believe she would betray her best friend like that.
• He totally backstabbed me and betrayed my trust.
• The dark clouds betray the incoming storm.

noun a sum of money or other inducement offered or given in order to persuade or influence someone to do something, especially dishonestly

• The politician was caught accepting a bribe in exchange for favorable legislation.
• I heard that the cop took a bribe to let the criminal go free.
• The contractor tried to bribe the inspector to overlook the building code violations.
• Sometimes kindness can be seen as a bribe for someone's affection.

adjective showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others

• The defendant showed a callous disregard for the victim's well-being.
• I can't believe how callous she was towards her friend in need.
• He's just a callous jerk who doesn't care about anyone but himself.
• Her callous words cut through me like a knife.

noun a swindle or cheat

verb to swindle or deceive

• The committee was accused of trying to chouse the public out of their rightful benefits.
• I can't believe he tried to chouse his way out of paying for dinner.
• She's always trying to chouse her way into getting free stuff.
• The tricky salesman managed to chouse his customers into buying unnecessary upgrades.

verb to find a way around or overcome (a problem or difficulty)

• The company implemented new security measures to circumvent potential cyber attacks.
• She found a clever way to circumvent the long line at the grocery store.
• He always knows how to circumvent the rules and get away with it.
• Despite the obstacles, she was able to circumvent the challenges and reach her goals.

noun the state of being involved in a crime or wrongful act

adjective related to or involving complicity

• The evidence pointed towards his complicity in the embezzlement scheme.
• She was accused of complicity in the prank that went wrong.
• I can't believe his level of complicity in the cheating scandal.
• Their silence spoke volumes about their complicity in the cover-up.

verb to act in accordance with a wish or command

adverb compliantly or obediently

• It is important for all employees to comply with company policies and procedures.
• Just make sure you comply with the rules so you don't get in trouble.
• Dude, you gotta comply with what they're asking or you're gonna be out of luck.
• Sometimes it's better to comply with the flow of things rather than resist.

noun a person who conforms to accepted behavior or established practices

adjective adhering to or characterized by conformity

• The organization values employees who are not conformist and are willing to think outside the box.
• She's such a conformist, always following the latest trends without question.
• Don't be a conformist, man. Do your own thing and be unique.
• In a sea of conformists, be a beacon of individuality and creativity.

verb to secretly cooperate or conspire with someone to do something wrong, illegal, or harmful

• It is unacceptable for a judge to connive at corruption within the legal system.
• I can't believe he would connive at cheating on the exam.
• I heard she connived at the party last night to get free drinks.
• The politician was accused of conniving at the exploitation of workers for personal gain.

noun the state of being responsible for something, especially for a fault or wrongdoing

• The investigation aimed to determine the extent of his culpability in the financial fraud.
• It's pretty clear that his culpability in the situation cannot be denied.
• He's totally trying to shift the blame, but his culpability is obvious.
• Her silence spoke volumes about her culpability in the scandal.

adjective describing a quality of being misleading or giving a false impression

• The company was accused of engaging in deceptive marketing practices.
• Don't trust him, he's known for being deceptive.
• She's so deceptive, I never know when she's telling the truth.
• The painting's use of light and shadow creates a deceptive sense of depth.

noun the act of disclosing or revealing something

verb to make (information) known or reveal

• It is important for companies to disclose all relevant financial information to their shareholders.
• Can you please disclose where you hid the snacks?
• I ain't gonna disclose my secrets to just anyone.
• She hesitated to disclose her true feelings, fearing rejection.

noun a feeling or expression of disapproval or opposition

verb to show disapproval or opposition towards something

• The professor's decision to discountenance any form of cheating set a high standard for academic integrity.
• I discountenance any form of gossip in our office.
• I totally discountenance that kind of behavior.
• The judge's stern look seemed to discountenance any further outbursts in the courtroom.

adjective not honest; disingenuous or deceitful

• The businessman was accused of being dishonest in his financial dealings.
• I can't trust him, he's always being dishonest about everything.
• She's such a snake, always being dishonest to get what she wants.
• His dishonesty was like a dark cloud hanging over the company's reputation.

noun the quality of being deceitful or untruthful; lack of honesty

• The company has a zero-tolerance policy for dishonesty among its employees.
• I can't believe the level of dishonesty in that report.
• Stop with the dishonesty, just tell me the truth!
• Dishonesty is like a dark cloud that hovers over every interaction.

noun the quality of being disloyal; lack of loyalty or faithfulness

• The act of disloyalty towards the company resulted in severe consequences.
• I can't believe his disloyalty to his best friend.
• Her disloyalty to the group was a real backstabbing move.
• The disloyalty of the waves to the shore was evident in their constant retreat.

adjective outstandingly bad; shocking

• The company was fined for its egregious violation of environmental regulations.
• His behavior at the party was just plain egregious.
• That was a totally egregious move on his part.
• Her talent on the piano is so egregious, it's almost otherworldly.

verb to steal or misappropriate (money or property entrusted to one's care)

• The accountant was caught trying to embezzle funds from the company.
• I heard that the manager was embezzling money from the business.
• She thought she could get away with embezzling, but she got caught.
• He tried to embezzle trust from his friends by lying to them.

noun moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity

• The company's code of ethics outlines the expected behavior of all employees.
• She always tries to do the right thing, she has really good ethics.
• I can't believe he cheated on the test, that's just not cool from an ethics standpoint.
• In the world of business, ethics can be a gray area that many companies struggle to navigate.

noun the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats

• The businessman was charged with extortion for threatening to reveal damaging information unless he was paid a large sum of money.
• The mob boss is known for his extortion tactics, always demanding money in exchange for 'protection'.
• The scam artist was caught trying to pull an extortion scheme on unsuspecting victims.
• The company's strict policies felt like a form of extortion, as employees were forced to comply or face consequences.

adjective excessive in price or amount; exorbitant

• The price of the new luxury car was extortionate compared to similar models on the market.
• I can't believe how extortionate the prices are at that fancy restaurant.
• The cost of those sneakers is totally extortionate, I could never afford them.
• His demands for a raise were so extortionate, it felt like he was holding my paycheck hostage.

adjective Fast and loose is an idiom that means behaving in a reckless or unreliable manner.

adverb Fast is an adverb that describes the speed of an action or how quickly something is done.

conjunction And is a conjunction that connects words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence.

• The company cannot afford to play fast and loose with financial regulations.
• She always plays fast and loose with the rules when no one is looking.
• They're known for playing fast and loose with the truth around here.
• His management style is to play fast and loose with deadlines, which can be risky.

noun the quality of being deceitful or dishonest; a tendency to deceive or cheat

• The company was accused of fraudulence in their financial statements.
• I can't believe the fraudulence that was uncovered in the audit.
• That dude is shady, always up to some fraudulence.
• Her smile was a mask for the fraudulence in her words.

noun a man of good social position, especially one of wealth and leisure

adjective referring to qualities traditionally associated with a gentleman, such as courtesy and chivalry

• The gentleman requested a meeting to discuss the business proposal.
• That gentleman over there is always willing to help out.
• Check out that gentleman with the slick haircut.
• He was a true gentleman, always putting others before himself.

noun a word that functions as the name of something

• The guiding principle of the company is to always prioritize customer satisfaction.
• Our guiding principle here is to work hard and have fun while doing it.
• The guiding principle of this group project is to divide and conquer.
• Compassion is the guiding principle that leads us through difficult times.

noun the action or practice of selling goods in an aggressive or dishonest way

• The government implemented strict regulations to prevent huckstering in the marketplace.
• I heard that guy is always huckstering people to buy his products.
• Don't trust that huckster, he's just trying to rip you off.
• She was known for huckstering her way into getting what she wanted.

noun a sum of money paid to someone to keep them from revealing certain information or to remain silent

• The company paid hush money to the whistleblower to keep the information confidential.
• The celebrity offered hush money to the tabloid to prevent the story from being published.
• The politician tried to use hush money to cover up the scandal.
• Accepting hush money is like silencing your own voice in exchange for temporary peace.

noun the state of being held in low esteem or disrepute

• The company's decision to associate with suppliers of ill-repute has damaged its reputation.
• I wouldn't trust that mechanic, he's known to be of ill-repute.
• Stay away from that bar, it's full of people of ill-repute.
• The old mansion had an air of ill-repute, with rumors of ghosts haunting its halls.

noun hostility or animosity

• The lawsuit was filed due to the ill-will between the two business partners.
• I can sense some ill-will between them after the argument.
• There's a lot of ill-will going on in that group chat.
• The dark cloud of ill-will hung over their relationship, poisoning any chance of reconciliation.

adjective contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law

• Engaging in illegal activities can result in severe consequences.
• You shouldn't do anything illegal if you want to stay out of trouble.
• Dude, selling those things is totally illegal!
• Breaking the rules like that is like playing with fire, it's just asking for trouble.

adjective Imprudent is an adjective that describes someone who acts without thinking about the consequences, often in a careless or reckless manner.

• It would be imprudent to make such a hasty decision without considering all the consequences.
• It's pretty imprudent to spend all your money on unnecessary things.
• Dude, it's so imprudent to ditch school just for a concert.
• Taking unnecessary risks in life is like walking on a tightrope without a safety net, it's imprudent and dangerous.

noun a person who seeks to influence others, especially through the use of political power or personal connections

• The investigation revealed that the individual was operating as an influence peddler within the political circles.
• I heard that guy is an influence peddler, always trying to get people to do what he wants.
• Stay away from that influence peddler, he's bad news.
• In the world of business, some people are like influence peddlers, always trying to sway decisions in their favor.

verb to intrude or interfere in a situation or activity in which one does not belong

• The businessman was accused of being an interlope in the company's dealings.
• I heard that new guy is an interlope who doesn't really fit in with the team.
• Don't be such an interlope and try to join our group without an invitation.
• The invasive species was like an interlope in the ecosystem, disrupting the natural balance.

noun a condition where the palm of the hand feels itchy

• The businessman was accused of having an itching palm after being caught taking bribes.
• I can tell by the way he's flashing his cash that he's got an itching palm.
• Watch out for him, he's got a serious case of itching palm.
• His itching palm led him to make unethical decisions for personal gain.

verb present participle of the verb 'know'

adverb in a way that shows awareness or intention

• The defendant knowingly committed perjury during the trial.
• I can't believe she knowingly lied to her boss about being sick.
• He knowingly cheated on his girlfriend with her best friend.
• She knowingly took a risk by investing all her savings in the stock market.

noun a place where laundering is done

verb to wash or clean (clothes, linens, etc.)

• The company was accused of using offshore accounts to launder money.
• I heard that some people use cryptocurrency to launder their money.
• I can't believe he tried to launder his dirty money through a car wash.
• She tried to launder her reputation by making a large donation to charity.

noun a means of escape or evasion; a technicality that allows a rule or law to be circumvented

• The company exploited a legal loophole to avoid paying taxes.
• We found a loophole in the contract that allows us to get out of it early.
• He always knows how to find a loophole to get what he wants.
• She managed to find a loophole in his argument and prove him wrong.

noun money, especially when regarded as sordid or distasteful or gained in a dishonest way

• The businessman was solely focused on acquiring lucre, often at the expense of ethics.
• She's always chasing after the lucre, trying to make a quick buck.
• Some people will do anything for that sweet lucre.
• In the pursuit of lucre, he lost sight of what truly mattered in life.

noun a minimum amount of money that an employer is required by law to pay to an employee for work done

• The government recently announced an increase in the minimum wage to help low-income workers.
• I heard they're raising the minimum wage next month, which is great news for us.
• Dude, did you hear they're bumping up the min wage? Finally!
• In the world of freelancing, your time is your minimum wage - make sure it's worth it.

verb to handle or control poorly or incompetently

• The company's board of directors was accused of mismanaging funds.
• The manager really mismanaged the team's project and now we're behind schedule.
• I can't believe he mismanaged the whole operation, what a mess.
• She mismanaged her emotions and ended up hurting those around her.

noun a person who is not welcome or accepted in a particular country or group

adjective not welcome or accepted in a particular country or group

• After the scandal, the diplomat was declared persona non grata by the host country.
• Once he caused trouble at the party, he became persona non grata among his friends.
• She's basically persona non grata in our group now.
• His outdated views on social issues made him persona non grata in the modern world.

verb to formally forbid something; to not allow something

adjective not allowed; forbidden

• Smoking is strictly prohibited in this area.
• You can't smoke here, it's prohibited.
• No way, that's a no-go zone, smoking is prohibited.
• In our family, lying is prohibited, we value honesty above all else.

noun something that is owned by a specific individual or company and is not available to the public

adjective relating to an owner or ownership; privately owned and maintained

• The company developed a proprietary software solution for their clients.
• They have their own proprietary way of doing things.
• I can't share that information, it's proprietary.
• Her proprietary knowledge of the industry gave her a competitive edge.

adjective showing care and thought for the future; wise; sensible

• It is prudent to carefully consider all options before making a decision.
• It's probably a good idea to think things through before you decide.
• You'd be smart to think it over before jumping in.
• Being prudent is like looking both ways before crossing the street.

adjective inflicting or intended as punishment

• The judge imposed a punitive fine on the company for violating environmental regulations.
• The teacher gave a punitive assignment to the students who were talking during class.
• My parents are being so punitive by grounding me for a month.
• The punitive measures taken by the coach pushed the team to work harder and improve their performance.

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating the manner, degree, or frequency of the action or state being described

• It is important to make a reasonably informed decision based on all available information.
• I think we can reasonably expect the meeting to last about an hour.
• I'm reasonably sure that we'll have a good time at the concert.
• He was reasonably satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations.

adjective describes a person or thing that is considered to be respectable, trustworthy, or of good reputation

• It is important to seek advice from a reputable source before making any major decisions.
• I always go to that reputable mechanic down the street for car repairs.
• That place is known for being super reputable when it comes to fixing phones.
• In the world of fashion, being associated with a reputable designer can open many doors.

noun Underhanded or unscrupulous behavior; trickery or deception

• The investigation uncovered a complex web of skulduggery within the company.
• I knew something fishy was going on when I saw all that skulduggery happening.
• I can't believe the level of skulduggery going on behind our backs!
• His charm masked the skulduggery he was involved in.

• The witness finally decided to spill the beans during the trial.
• Come on, just spill the beans already! We're all waiting to hear.
• I can't believe she actually spilled the beans about her crush on him!
• Once he started talking, he couldn't help but spill the beans about everything that had happened.

noun a fair and honest way of doing business or behaving

adjective honest and fair in dealings with others

• The company prides itself on its reputation for square dealing in all business transactions.
• I appreciate your square dealing in splitting the bill evenly with me.
• I can always count on Jake for some square dealing when it comes to trading cards.
• In the game of life, it's important to practice square dealing with others to maintain trust and integrity.

noun a list or document containing fraudulent or deceptive information, typically used for dishonest purposes

• The accountant discovered discrepancies in the swindle sheet during the audit.
• I can't believe they tried to pass off that swindle sheet as accurate.
• The boss caught them cooking the books on the swindle sheet.
• Her smile was like a swindle sheet, hiding the truth beneath a facade of happiness.

noun a person who behaves in a servile or submissive way to gain favor or advantage

• The truckler was known for always bending to the will of their superiors.
• Don't be a truckler and stand up for what you believe in.
• That guy is such a truckler, always trying to please everyone.
• Being a truckler in the office won't get you far in your career.

adverb modifying a verb, adjective, or other adverb to indicate that something is done excessively or inappropriately

• The judge ruled that the evidence was unduly prejudicial and therefore inadmissible in court.
• I think it's unduly harsh to give him a detention for being late once.
• She was unduly stressed about the exam, but she ended up doing just fine.
• His influence over the group was unduly strong, shaping their decisions in ways they didn't realize.

verb to support or maintain, especially in a legal or moral sense

• It is the duty of the judge to uphold the law and ensure justice is served.
• I always try to uphold my responsibilities as a good citizen.
• We gotta uphold our end of the bargain if we want to keep the deal going.
• The pillars of society uphold the values that hold our community together.

adjective an adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. 'Upstanding' describes someone who is honest, honorable, and morally upright.

• He is known in the community as an upstanding citizen with a strong moral compass.
• My neighbor is such an upstanding guy, always willing to lend a helping hand.
• That dude is straight upstanding, you can always count on him to have your back.
• The towering skyscraper stood upstanding against the city skyline, a symbol of strength and resilience.

adjective capable of being bought or influenced by money

• The judge was accused of being venal and accepting bribes.
• I heard that the politician is quite venal and only cares about money.
• Don't trust that guy, he's totally venal and will do anything for a quick buck.
• The company's decision to cut corners was a venal move that ultimately hurt their reputation.

noun A type of capitalism characterized by the exploitation of struggling businesses or industries for profit, often through aggressive and unethical practices.

• Vulture capitalism is a term used to describe the practice of investors taking advantage of struggling companies by buying their assets at a low price.
• Some people call it vulture capitalism when investors swoop in to make a profit off of failing businesses.
• Vulture capitalism is like when vultures circle around a dying animal, waiting to pounce on the opportunity.
• The ruthless tactics of vulture capitalism can be compared to scavengers picking apart the remains of a carcass.

noun a fool, money

verb are, parted

adjective soon

conjunction and

article a

• It is a well-known saying that a fool and his money are soon parted.
• You know what they say, a fool and his money are soon parted.
• Don't be a fool, your money won't stick around for long.
• Just like a fool and his money, some things are destined to be separated.

noun a person who is easily deceived or tricked

verb to deceive or trick someone into believing something that is not true

• It is not ethical to play someone for a fool in a professional setting.
• Don't think you can play me for a fool and get away with it.
• She thought she could play him for a fool, but he caught on quickly.
• Trying to deceive him was like trying to play a seasoned detective for a fool.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• It is not advisable to sail close to the wind when making important decisions in business.
• I wouldn't sail close to the wind by waiting until the last minute to finish your assignment.
• Don't sail too close to the wind or you might get in trouble.
• He tends to sail close to the wind in his relationships, always pushing boundaries.

noun an act or instance of deceiving

• The company was involved in a scheme of dupery to manipulate their financial statements.
• I can't believe she fell for his dupery and gave him all her money.
• That guy is a master of dupery, always tricking people into doing things for him.
• Her smile was a mask of dupery, hiding her true intentions.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

• The proposed budget plan must pass the smell test before it can be approved by the board.
• I don't trust that restaurant, their food doesn't pass the smell test.
• That excuse doesn't pass the smell test, I know you're lying.
• Her story about being late last night just doesn't pass the smell test, something doesn't add up.

noun a person who compromises their principles or values for personal gain, especially in intellectual or academic pursuits

• The academic community strongly condemns any individual who acts as an intellectual prostitute by selling their expertise for personal gain.
• I can't believe she's willing to be an intellectual prostitute just to get ahead in her career.
• He's such an intellectual prostitute, always spewing out whatever opinion will get him the most attention.
• Selling out your principles for money is the ultimate act of being an intellectual prostitute.

verb to encourage or assist someone in committing a crime or wrongdoing

• The suspect was charged with abetting the criminal activity.
• She was accused of abetting the theft.
• He's always abetting his friends in mischief.
• His silence was seen as abetting the corruption within the company.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• The accumulation of power in the hands of a few can lead to corruption and abuse of authority.
• When one person has all the power, things can get pretty messy.
• Having all that power is like being the big boss in charge of everything.
• The accumulation of power can be like holding a double-edged sword, with both benefits and risks.

verb Adheres is a verb that means to stick firmly to something or to follow closely.

• The company strictly adheres to all industry regulations.
• She always sticks to her schedule and adheres to deadlines.
• I told him to just follow the rules and adhere to them.
• Her loyalty to the cause adheres to her like a second skin.