Ethic/ˈeθɪk/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Rules Ethics can be unspoken social expectations, not just clear rules. His actions were frowned upon, lacking the usual social ethic. Pro Tip 2/3Context Sensitive Ethics can vary greatly between professions, societies, and cultures. As an engineer, you must learn the specific ethics of your field. Pro Tip 3/3Subject to Debate Ethical standards are not fixed and can be debated or challenged. There's an ongoing debate about the ethics of artificial intelligence.