Electrical vs. electric: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Electric generally describes something that directly uses or produces electricity, like electric cars or electric lights, whereas electrical is often used in a broader context to refer to things related to electricity, like electrical engineering or electrical currents.
What they have in common
Both electric and electrical are related to electricity. They describe things that pertain to or involve electricity.
Examples
electrical
- She is studying electrical engineering at university.
- The building’s electrical system was upgraded for safety.
- There was an electrical fault that caused the blackout.
electric
- He bought a new electric car last week.
- The electric bill was higher this month.
- They used an electric drill to make the holes.
Which one is more common?
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