Electric, Electronic, Electronical

Electric, Electronic, Electronical? What’s the Difference?

Hello English learners! Welcome to a new lesson. Some English words look very similar but mean slightly different things — and electric, electronic, and electronical are a perfect example. They all come from the word electricity, but they are not used in the same way.

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

• what electric really means,
• what electronic really means,
• and why you should almost never use “electronical”.

This is especially useful for Cambridge exams and for avoiding typical learner mistakes.

Electric

Meaning: using electricity as a source of power or producing electricity. If something is electric, it is powered by electricity or related to electrical energy.

Typical examples are electric car, electric kettle, electric heater, electric guitar, electric fence, electric shock

• Electric cars are becoming more popular because they are quieter and more environmentally friendly.
• She bought an electric guitar instead of an acoustic one.
• We use an electric heater to warm the room in winter.
• Be careful — that wire could give you an electric shock.

Think: electric = about power and energy

Electronic

Meaning: using electronic circuits, chips, or digital systems to control, process, or store information.

If something is electronic, it is not just powered by electricity — it uses electronic components to think, calculate, control, or communicate.

Typical examples are electronic device, electronic keyboard, electronic book (e-book), electronic system, electronic components, electronic payment.

• Most homes today have many electronic devices.
• She prefers reading electronic books on her tablet.
• The electronic system controls the temperature automatically.
• The computer’s electronic components process information very quickly.

Think: electronic = about control, information, and circuits

The key difference

Electric = about power

Electronic = about control and information

Compare:

an electric kettle → uses electricity to heat water

an electronic kettle → has buttons, a screen, sensors, and programs

Both use electricity — but only one is electronic.

Electronical

You may sometimes see the word electronical in old texts or dictionaries. However, in modern English, electronical is rare, old-fashioned, and usually sounds wrong.

✅ Always use: electronic

❌ Do NOT use: electronical

Quick summary

Remember this simple rule:

Electric = power

Electronic = brains

Electronical = don’t use it

If you keep this in mind, you’ll never confuse these words again — and your English will sound much more natural and precise, especially in exams and technical topics.

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