Etymology Map
Back to all words

Ethics

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means moral principles governing behaviour; the study of them

Where does the word "ethics" come from? It comes from Greek ēthikos, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
ēthikos
Greek · ancient
"of character"
from 'ēthos', custom or character; Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics set the field
2
Stage 2 of 3
ethica
Latin · ancient
"moral philosophy"
used by medieval scholars for moral philosophy
3
Stage 3 of 3
ethics
English · 1600s
"moral principles"
the plural form follows 'physics' and 'politics' for a field of study
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Ethics’s story begins in Greek: ēthikos meant “of character.” From 'ēthos', custom or character; Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics set the field. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as ethica. Used by medieval scholars for moral philosophy. It reached English by 1600s as ethics. The plural form follows 'physics' and 'politics' for a field of study. Today, ethics means moral principles governing behaviour; the study of them.