The difference between Ethical and Moral
When used as nouns, ethical means an ethical drug, whereas moral means the ethical significance or practical lesson.
When used as adjectives, ethical means of or relating to the study of ethics, whereas moral means of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behaviour, especially for teaching right behaviour.
check bellow for the other definitions of Ethical and Moral
-
Ethical as an adjective (philosophy, not comparable):
Of or relating to the study of ethics.
Examples:
"The philosopher Kant is particularly known for his ethical writings."
-
Ethical as an adjective (not comparable):
Of or relating to the accepted principles of right and wrong, especially those of some organization or profession.
Examples:
"All employees must familiarize themselves with our ethical guidelines."
-
Ethical as an adjective (comparable):
Morally approvable; good.
Examples:
"We are trying to decide what the most ethical course of action would be."
-
Ethical as an adjective (of a drug, not comparable):
Only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.
Examples:
"In most jurisdictions, morphine is classified as an ethical drug."
-
Ethical as a noun:
An ethical drug.
-
Moral as an adjective:
Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behaviour, especially for teaching right behaviour.
Examples:
"'moral judgments; a moral poem"
-
Moral as an adjective:
Conforming to a standard of right behaviour; sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment.
Examples:
"a moral obligation"
-
Moral as an adjective:
Capable of right and wrong action.
Examples:
"a moral agent"
-
Moral as an adjective:
Probable but not proved.
Examples:
"a moral certainty"
-
Moral as an adjective:
Positively affecting the mind, confidence, or will.
Examples:
"a moral victory; moral support"
-
Moral as a noun (of a narrative):
The ethical significance or practical lesson.
Examples:
"The moral of w The Boy Who Cried Wolf is that if you repeatedly lie, people won't believe you when you tell the truth."
-
Moral as a noun (chiefly, in the plural):
Moral practices or teachings: modes of conduct.
Examples:
"a candidate with strong morals'"
-
Moral as a noun (obsolete):
A morality play.