Ethics Terminology

noun the quality of being without moral principles; the absence of morality

• The philosopher argued that amorality is the absence of moral principles in decision-making.
• Some people believe amorality is just not caring about right or wrong.
• Don't be so amoral, dude. Show some ethics.
• In the world of finance, amorality can lead to risky and unethical behavior.

adjective describes someone who is free from blame or fault

• The investigation concluded that the CEO was blameless in the financial scandal.
• Don't worry, you're blameless in this situation.
• She's totally blameless for what happened, it was all a misunderstanding.
• The white dove symbolizes innocence and is often seen as blameless in many cultures.

noun the resolving of moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances

• The philosopher's argument was based on intricate casuistry, analyzing every possible moral implication.
• The lawyer's casuistry allowed him to find loopholes in the contract.
• I can't stand his casuistry, always finding ways to twist the truth.
• Her casuistry in navigating social situations made her seem like a master manipulator.

adjective deserving of criticism or blame

• The CEO's behavior was deemed censurable by the board of directors.
• His actions were definitely censurable, no doubt about it.
• That was totally censurable, dude.
• The artist's controversial piece was considered censurable by some critics.

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

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being

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

pronoun a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse

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

article a word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite

• In professional settings, it is important to clearly draw the line between personal and professional relationships.
• I don't mind helping out occasionally, but I have to draw the line when it starts affecting my own work.
• I'll do a lot of things for my friends, but borrowing money is where I draw the line.
• When it comes to ethics, it's crucial to know where to draw the line between right and wrong.

noun the lesson or principle taught by a fable, story, or event

adjective concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior

• The moral of the story is to always be honest and kind.
• I think the moral of the movie was to never give up on your dreams.
• Dude, the moral of the party last night was to just have a good time.
• The moral compass of society seems to be shifting in recent years.

noun a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior

• The company's success is built upon a foundation of strong ethical principles.
• I try to live my life by good principles and values.
• Dude, you gotta stick to your principles no matter what.
• In life, we must navigate through the stormy seas with our principles as our guiding star.

adjective having moral integrity; acting in strict accordance with what is considered right or proper

• The scrupulous accountant meticulously reviewed every financial statement for errors.
• She's known for being scrupulous about keeping her room clean.
• I don't trust him, he's too scrupulous for my liking.
• His scrupulous attention to detail was like a fine-tooth comb, leaving no room for error.

noun an act performed beyond what is required or expected

adjective exceeding what is required or expected; superfluous

• The act of donating money to charity beyond what is required is considered supererogatory.
• Going above and beyond in helping your neighbor is supererogatory but greatly appreciated.
• It's totally supererogatory to bring a gift to the party, but it's a nice gesture.
• His dedication to his work goes beyond the call of duty, it's almost supererogatory.

noun a noun referring to the act of expressing opinions or beliefs in order to demonstrate moral correctness or virtue

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• The act of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments to demonstrate moral values is often referred to as virtue signalling.
• She's always virtue signalling on social media to show off how caring she is.
• Stop virtue signalling just to impress others, be genuine instead.
• His constant virtue signalling was like a neon sign flashing 'look how good I am'.

noun a person who accuses someone else, typically in a court of law

• The accuser presented their evidence to the court.
• The accuser told their side of the story to the police.
• The accuser spilled the tea to everyone at school.
• The accuser's words cut through the room like a sharp blade.