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Practical vs Ethical - What's the difference?

practical | ethical |

As nouns the difference between practical and ethical

is that practical is a part of an exam or series of exams in which the candidate has to demonstrate their practical ability while ethical is an ethical drug.

As adjectives the difference between practical and ethical

is that practical is based on practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis while ethical is of or relating to the study of ethics.

practical

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (British) A part of an exam or series of exams in which the candidate has to demonstrate their practical ability

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Based on practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis
    • Jack didn't get an engineering degree, but has practical knowledge of metalworking.
  • Being likely to be effective and applicable to a real situation; able to be put to use
    • Jack's knowledge has the practical benefit of giving us useful prototype parts.
  • Of a person, having skills or knowledge that are practical
    • All in all, Jack's a very practical chap

    Antonyms

    * (based on practice or action) theoretical * (being likely to effective and applicable to a real situation) impractical * (of a person) impractical

    Derived terms

    * practicality * practically

    Related terms

    * practicable * practice * practise * practitioner

    External links

    * *

    ethical

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (philosophy, not comparable) Of or relating to the study of ethics.
    • The philosopher Kant is particularly known for his ethical writings.
  • (not comparable) Of or relating to the accepted principles of right and wrong, especially those of some organization or profession.
    • All employees must familiarize themselves with our ethical guidelines.
  • (comparable) Morally approvable, when referring to an action that affects others; good.
    • We are trying to decide what the most ethical course of action would be.
  • (of a drug, not comparable) Only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.
    • 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) unethical

    Related terms

    * ethic * ethics * ethos

    See also

    * ethical dative

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An ethical drug.

    • External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

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