Integrity vs. Integral: What's the Difference?
By Janet White || Updated on May 23, 2024
Integrity refers to the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, while integral means necessary to make a whole complete or essential.
Key Differences
Integrity is the quality of being honest and adhering to strong moral principles. It emphasizes consistency in actions, values, and principles, which builds trust and respect. Integrity is crucial in personal relationships and professional settings for fostering trust and ethical behavior. Integral, on the other hand, means something that is essential or necessary for completeness. It denotes components or elements that are fundamental to the structure or function of a system. For example, teamwork is integral to the success of a project, indicating its indispensability.
Integrity relates to an individual's character and ethical standards, whereas integral refers to the importance or necessity of a component within a larger system. Both terms emphasize essential qualities but in different contexts personal ethics versus structural necessity.
In discussions about people, integrity focuses on moral and ethical behavior. Integral, however, is used when describing elements within a process, system, or entity, emphasizing the need for completeness.
Integrity often inspires trust and reliability in individuals, whereas integral components ensure the efficiency and functionality of systems or organizations. Both terms, though distinct, underline the importance of essential qualities, either in human character or system structure.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Quality of being honest and morally upright
Essential or necessary to complete a whole
ADVERTISEMENT
Context
Personal character, ethics
Components of a system, structure
Usage
Describing individuals or their actions
Describing necessary parts of systems or entities
Example
Integrity in leadership
Integral part of the team
Synonyms
Honesty, probity
Essential, fundamental
Integrity and Integral Definitions
Integrity
Quality of being honest.
Integrity is vital for a trustworthy leader.
ADVERTISEMENT
Integral
Inseparable.
Tradition is integral to the community's identity.
Integrity
Consistency of actions and values.
Integrity in actions builds long-term credibility.
Integral
Essential component.
An integral part of the strategy involves market research.
Integrity
Adherence to moral principles.
Her integrity was evident in her decision-making.
Integral
Fundamental.
Reliable data is integral to accurate analysis.
Integrity
Soundness of character.
Integrity is respected in personal and professional circles.
Integral
Necessary to make a whole complete.
Teamwork is integral to project success.
Integrity
Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code
A leader of great integrity.
Integral
Required for completeness.
Safety measures are integral to workplace policies.
Integrity
The state of being unimpaired; soundness
The building's integrity remained intact following the mild earthquake.
Integral
Essential or necessary for completeness; constituent
The kitchen is an integral part of a house.
Integrity
The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness
Replaced a lost book to restore the integrity of his collection.
Integral
Possessing everything essential; entire.
Integrity
Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
Integral
Expressed or expressible as or in terms of integers.
Integrity
The state of being wholesome; unimpaired
Integral
Expressed as or involving integrals.
Integrity
The quality or condition of being complete; pure
Integral
A complete unit; a whole.
Integrity
(cryptography) With regards to data encryption, ensuring that information is not altered by unauthorized persons in a way that is not detectable by authorized users.
Integral
A number computed by a limiting process in which the domain of a function, often an interval or planar region, is divided into arbitrarily small units, the value of the function at a point in each unit is multiplied by the linear or areal measurement of that unit, and all such products are summed.
Integrity
(aviation) The ability of systems to provide timely warnings to users when they should not be used for navigation.
Integral
A definite integral.
Integrity
Trustworthiness; keeping your word.
Integral
An indefinite integral.
Integrity
The state or quality of being entire or complete; wholeness; entireness; unbroken state; as, the integrity of an empire or territory.
Integral
Constituting a whole together with other parts or factors; not omittable or removable
Integrity
Moral soundness; honesty; freedom from corrupting influence or motive; - used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts, the discharge of agencies, trusts, and the like; uprightness; rectitude.
The moral grandeur of independent integrity is the sublimest thing in nature.
Their sober zeal, integrity, and worth.
Integral
(mathematics) Of, pertaining to, or being an integer.
Integrity
Unimpaired, unadulterated, or genuine state; entire correspondence with an original condition; purity.
Language continued long in its purity and integrity.
Integral
(mathematics) Relating to integration.
Integrity
An unreduced or unbroken completeness or totality
Integral
(obsolete) Whole; undamaged.
Integrity
Moral soundness
Integral
(mathematics) One of the two fundamental operations of calculus (the other being differentiation), whereby a function's displacement, area, volume, or other qualities arising from the study of infinitesimal change are quantified, usually defined as a limiting process on a sequence of partial sums. Denoted using a long s: ∫, or a variant thereof.
The integral of a univariate real-valued function is the area under its curve; but be warned! Not all functions are integrable!
Integrity
Moral uprightness.
His integrity was never questioned by his peers.
Integral
(specifically) Any of several analytic formalizations of this operation: the Riemann integral, the Lebesgue integral, etc.
Integral
(mathematics) A definite integral: the result of the application of such an operation onto a function and a suitable subset of the function's domain: either a number or positive or negative infinity. In the former case, the integral is said to be finite or to converge; in the latter, the integral is said to diverge. In notation, the domain of integration is indicated either below the sign, or, if it is an interval, with its endpoints as sub- and super-scripts, and the function being integrated forming part of the integrand (or, generally, differential form) appearing in front of the integral sign.
The integral of on is , but the integral of the same function on diverges. In notation, , but .
Integral
(mathematics) An indefinite integral: the result of the application of such an operation onto a function together with an indefinite domain, yielding a function; a function's antiderivative;
The integral of is plus a constant.
Integral
The fluent of a given fluxion in Newtonian calculus.
Integral
Lacking nothing of completeness; complete; perfect; uninjured; whole; entire.
A local motion keepeth bodies integral.
Integral
Essential to completeness; constituent, as a part; pertaining to, or serving to form, an integer; integrant.
Ceasing to do evil, and doing good, are the two great integral parts that complete this duty.
Integral
Of, pertaining to, or being, a whole number or undivided quantity; not fractional.
Integral
A whole; an entire thing; a whole number; an individual.
Integral
An expression which, being differentiated, will produce a given differential. See differential Differential, and Integration. Cf. Fluent.
Integral
The result of a mathematical integration; F(x) is the integral of f(x) if dF/dx = f(x)
Integral
Existing as an essential constituent or characteristic;
The Ptolemaic system with its built-in concept of periodicity
A constitutional inability to tell the truth
Integral
Constituting the undiminished entirety; lacking nothing essential especially not damaged;
A local motion keepeth bodies integral
Was able to keep the collection entire during his lifetime
Fought to keep the union intact
FAQs
How is integral used in a sentence?
E.g., Effective communication is integral to team success.
What does integrity mean?
Integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles.
What is the importance of integrity?
Integrity fosters trust, reliability, and ethical behavior in personal and professional settings.
Can integrity and integral be used interchangeably?
No, integrity refers to moral qualities, while integral refers to essential components.
What are synonyms for integrity?
Honesty, probity, and uprightness.
What are synonyms for integral?
Essential, fundamental, and necessary.
How does integrity relate to leadership?
Integrity in leadership builds trust and respect among team members.
How is integrity used in a sentence?
E.g., Integrity is crucial for building trust in any relationship.
Is integrity a common trait in business ethics?
Yes, integrity is crucial for ethical business practices.
What does integral mean?
Integral means essential or necessary for completeness.
How does one maintain integrity?
By consistently adhering to ethical standards and principles.
Why is integrity important in relationships?
It builds trust and reliability, forming the foundation of strong relationships.
Can a principle be integral?
Yes, principles can be integral to the functioning and ethos of an organization or system.
Why is integral used in systems?
Integral highlights components that are necessary for the system's completeness and functionality.
How can one demonstrate integrity?
By being consistent in actions and adhering to moral principles.
What can be considered integral to a company’s success?
E.g., Customer satisfaction is integral to a company’s long-term success.
What is an example of something integral to education?
E.g., Quality teaching is integral to student success.
Can integral describe people?
Not usually; it is typically used to describe essential components of systems or entities.
What is a profession where integrity is vital?
E.g., In law, integrity is crucial for justice and fairness.
What is an integral part of a strategy?
E.g., Market analysis is often an integral part of a successful strategy.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
