Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

ethical conundrum

noun

/ˈɛθɪkəl kəˈnʌndrəm/

Definition

A difficult moral problem or predicament that involves a choice between two or more conflicting ethical principles.

Examples

Choosing whether to report a friend for cheating on an exam can create an ethical conundrum for many students.
The case presented an ethical conundrum for the doctors, who had to decide between saving one patient or allocating resources to save many others.

Meaning

An ethical conundrum arises when a situation presents multiple choices that all have moral implications, making it challenging to determine the right course of action.