breach of ethics

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breach of ethics" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone violates accepted moral principles or professional standards. Example: "The company's decision to prioritize profit over safety was a clear breach of ethics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

It's just that art is not a breach of ethics.

The New Yorker

"To sanction a possible breach of ethics or misconduct is up to the professional organizations.

The New York Times

E-mails previously had sign-offs like "love to all"; now they had words like "breach of ethics" and "priorities".

The New York Times

Physicians should be urged to recognize the obvious breach of ethics these plans present, and refuse to participate in them.

The New York Times

"All parties who were involved in this institutional breach of ethics should be held accountable and should be banned from Wall Street for life.

The New York Times

A source close to Socks insisted that no breach of ethics is involved but, because of the media flap, Socks intends to return the litter.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

The result is a wave of abrupt firings as corporations move to stop perceived breaches of ethics that could result in law enforcement action, or public relations disasters.

The New York Times

The business of domain names and how they are registered involves some of the worst breaches of ethics on the Internet.

The New York Times

And back in 2005, as shadow leader of the Commons, he was described as the jackal of the Tory Party who ruthlessly and persistently pursued what he considered breaches of ethics and the collapse of standards.

Independent

During a sleepless night, he wrote what came to be known as the Zibel Memorandum, detailing three recent instances in which he believed Justice Thayer had committed breaches of ethics.

The New York Times

A15 BUSINESS DAY C1-17 New Standards for Employees Corporations and their boards are holding their employees to lofty standards of business and personal behavior in order to stop perceived breaches of ethics that could result in law enforcement action or public relations disasters.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a "breach of ethics", be specific about which ethical principles were violated and the potential consequences of the breach.

Common error

Avoid labeling actions a "breach of ethics" simply because they clash with your personal preferences. Ensure the action violates established ethical codes or professional standards.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breach of ethics" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a specific instance or category of ethical violation as illustrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "breach of ethics" is a noun phrase used to describe a violation of established ethical or professional standards. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, with a neutral register and common usage across news, science, and business contexts. When using the phrase, be precise about the principles violated. Alternative phrases include "ethical violation" or "ethical misconduct" depending on the specific situation. The top authoritative sources for examples include The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ethical violation

More concise; focuses on the violation itself.

ethical breach

Simple inversion of the original phrase.

ethical transgression

Emphasizes crossing a moral boundary.

unethical conduct

Focuses on the behavior being not ethical.

lapse in ethics

Highlights a temporary failure in ethical conduct.

ethical misconduct

Focuses on improper behavior within a professional context.

violation of ethical standards

More formal and emphasizes established rules.

failure of ethics

Emphasizes the lack of ethical behavior.

compromise of ethics

Highlights the weakening or corruption of ethical principles.

moral failing

Highlights a deficiency in moral character.

FAQs

What does "breach of ethics" mean?

A "breach of ethics" refers to the violation of established moral principles or professional standards, often resulting in disciplinary action or damage to reputation.

How to use "breach of ethics" in a sentence?

Example: "The company's decision to prioritize profit over safety was a clear "breach of ethics"."

What are some alternatives to saying "breach of ethics"?

You can use alternatives like "ethical violation", "ethical misconduct", or "violation of ethical standards" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "breach of ethics" and "ethical dilemma"?

A "breach of ethics" is a clear violation of ethical standards, while an "ethical dilemma" involves a situation where there is no clear right or wrong answer and choosing between conflicting moral principles is necessary.