Ethical vs Equivocal - What's the difference?
ethical | equivocal |
(philosophy, not comparable) Of or relating to the study of ethics.
(not comparable) Of or relating to the accepted principles of right and wrong, especially those of some organization or profession.
(comparable) Morally approvable, when referring to an action that affects others; good.
(of a drug, not comparable) Only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.
Having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation; ambiguous; uncertain.
* Jeffrey
Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected.
* Milton
Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful, incongruous.
* Burke
As adjectives the difference between ethical and equivocal
is that ethical is (philosophy|not comparable) of or relating to the study of ethics while equivocal is having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation; ambiguous; uncertain.As nouns the difference between ethical and equivocal
is that ethical is an ethical drug while equivocal is a word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.ethical
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- The philosopher Kant is particularly known for his ethical writings.
- All employees must familiarize themselves with our ethical guidelines.
- We are trying to decide what the most ethical course of action would be.
- In most jurisdictions, morphine is classified as an ethical drug.
Usage notes
* In general usage ethical'' is used to describe standards of behavior between individuals, while ''moral'' or ''immoral can describe any behavior. You can call lying unethical or immoral, for example, because it involves the behavior of one person and how it affects another, but violating dietary prohibitions in a holy text can only be described as immoral.Derived terms
* ethical investment * ethical system * meta-ethical * (morally approvable) unethicalSee also
* ethical dativeExternal links
* * *Anagrams
*equivocal
English
(Webster 1913)Alternative forms
* (rare)Synonyms
* double entendreAdjective
(en adjective)- equivocal''' words; an '''equivocal sentence
- For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes.
- His actions are equivocal .
- equivocal repentances
- How equivocal a test.