Fifteen letters will fix hard code (5)

I believe the answer is:

ethos

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'code' is the definition.
(moral code)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for ethos that I've seen before include "Characteristic spirit (of a culture, etc)" , "Characteristic spirit (of, eg, a culture)" , "General disposition" , "Distinctive attitudes of a people" , "Those with characteristic beliefs or spirit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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