Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

ethical quandary

noun

/ˈɛθ.ɪ.kəl ˈkwɒn.dri/

Definition

A situation involving a difficult moral choice, where a person must make a decision that weighs conflicting ethical principles.

Examples

She found herself in an ethical quandary when deciding whether to report the truth, which could harm her friend.
The company’s decision to cut costs raised an ethical quandary about their responsibility to employees.
Choosing between environmental safety and economic growth presented an ethical quandary for the town’s leaders.

Meaning

An ethical quandary occurs when one is faced with two or more morally acceptable options, but choosing one possibly means compromising another ethical value.