Ethical Business Practices

noun An organization or economic system where goods and services are exchanged for one another or for money

• The company is looking to expand its business operations internationally.
• I'm thinking of starting my own business selling handmade crafts.
• My dad's business is really booming right now.
• Taking risks is just part of the business of life.

noun the act of speaking about someone or something in a way that shows strong disapproval or lack of respect

adjective disparaging

• The company will not tolerate any disparagement of its products by competitors.
• Stop with the disparagement, it's unnecessary and unhelpful.
• I can't stand all the haters spreading disparagement about her.
• His constant disparagement of himself was starting to affect his self-esteem.

noun the legal procedures established by a government to protect the rights of individuals

• The defendant was ensured due process throughout the legal proceedings.
• They made sure to follow all the rules when dealing with that case.
• They had to go through all the red tape to make sure everything was done right.
• Just like a well-oiled machine, due process ensures that justice is served fairly.

noun the act or process of demanding and obtaining something from someone, especially a payment or service

• The exaction of taxes by the government is necessary for funding public services.
• I can't believe the exaction on my paycheck this month!
• The exaction on that fine was outrageous!
• The exaction of emotional labor from employees is a common issue in many workplaces.

verb to obtain something by force, threats, or unfair means

• The criminal attempted to extort money from the business owner by threatening to harm his family.
• The bully tried to extort lunch money from the younger students at school.
• The scammer was trying to extort some quick cash from unsuspecting victims.
• The difficult situation seemed to extort all of her energy and emotions.

noun a system of trade that ensures producers in developing countries receive fair wages and working conditions

• The company prides itself on participating in fair trade practices with its suppliers.
• I always make sure to look for the fair trade label when shopping for coffee.
• Dude, those bananas are totally fair trade - they're the best!
• In the world of business, sometimes you have to negotiate for fair trade agreements to ensure everyone benefits.

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

• In keeping with company policy, all employees must attend the mandatory training session.
• In keeping with tradition, we always have a barbecue on the Fourth of July.
• In keeping with the bro code, I'll cover for you if you need to sneak out of the party.
• In keeping with the rhythm of the music, the dancers moved gracefully across the stage.

verb to dishonestly or illegally use something for one's own benefit

• The company's accountant was caught trying to misappropriate funds from the company's accounts.
• I heard that John got fired for trying to misappropriate money from the company.
• Don't be a fool and misappropriate those funds, you'll get caught!
• She felt like someone was trying to misappropriate her ideas during the meeting.

adjective open and aboveboard means honest, straightforward, and without deceit or hidden motives

• It is important to conduct business in an open and aboveboard manner to maintain trust and integrity.
• Let's make sure everything is done in an open and aboveboard way so there are no misunderstandings.
• Hey, we gotta keep this deal open and aboveboard, no funny business.
• His intentions were clear and aboveboard, there was no hidden agenda in his actions.

noun poke

preposition in

• The customer was disappointed when he realized he had bought a pig in a poke.
• I can't believe I fell for that deal, it was a total pig in a poke.
• That new restaurant looked promising but turned out to be a pig in a poke.
• She thought she was getting a good deal on the car, but it turned out to be a pig in a poke.

noun a person who engages in dishonest and fraudulent business dealings, often involving illegal activities such as extortion or bribery

• The authorities were able to apprehend the notorious racketeer who had been operating in the city for years.
• I heard that the racketeer down the street got arrested last night.
• That racketeer is always up to no good, you better watch out for him.
• The politician was accused of being a racketeer, using his power for personal gain.

noun the act of making secret and underhanded plans

adjective involving making secret and underhanded plans

• The scheming employee was eventually caught embezzling funds from the company.
• I heard that Lisa has been scheming to get a promotion at work.
• Don't trust him, he's always scheming to get what he wants.
• The dark clouds overhead seemed to be scheming to ruin our picnic.

verb to give someone less money than they are owed, often in a dishonest or unfair way

• The customer felt that the store was trying to shortchange him by not providing a full refund.
• Don't shortchange yourself by settling for less than you deserve.
• I won't let them shortchange me on this deal.
• By not investing in your education, you are shortchanging your future potential.

noun A legitimate or honest course of action or behavior

adjective Honest or legitimate

• The company's financial records are all on the up-and-up.
• I can assure you, everything is on the up-and-up with this deal.
• Don't worry, this situation is totally up-and-up.
• His career has been on the up-and-up ever since he started working with that new team.

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

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

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb

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

article a word that is used to specify or limit a noun

• It is important to use your time and resources to good purpose in order to achieve success.
• Let's put this extra money to good purpose and invest it in something worthwhile.
• I'm gonna use these old clothes to good purpose by turning them into cool new outfits.
• She always knows how to use her charm to good purpose and get what she wants.

noun the action of selling something to someone in a misleading or dishonest way

• The financial advisor was accused of mis-selling investment products to unsuspecting clients.
• The salesman got in trouble for mis-selling insurance policies to customers.
• The agent was busted for pulling a mis-selling scam on his clients.
• Her mis-selling of the idea led to a disastrous outcome for the project.

adjective describing someone who lacks social awareness or understanding

adverb modifying the verb 'blind' to describe how someone is blind in a social context

• Some people may be considered socially blind if they struggle to understand social cues and norms.
• My friend can be a bit socially blind sometimes and unintentionally says things that are inappropriate.
• I feel like I'm socially blind when I can't pick up on subtle hints from others.
• Being socially blind in a new environment can make it difficult to navigate social interactions.