I think "cheating" includes a whole bunch of behaviours, whereas "adultery" only refers to having sexual intercourse (i.e. penis inserted into vagina) with another person outside of a legal marriage. Adultery is a really old word.

It's less syllables. Also, Adultery only applies to marriage, whereas "Cheating" has a more broad meaning.

Adultery or cheating, it's just having a relationship outside of marriage. Questions similar to this have been asked and answered before. There will be some answerers, like me, who think that "cheating" is pejorative without cause; and others, from the traditional, American Puritanical viewpoint who think that it is not pejorative enough. Here's what I said elsewhere: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor,Warren G. Harding, Franklyn Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lydon B Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, (Who did I leave out?) . This country was founded by men who were called the Founding Fathers with good reason. The men who followed them have continued that tradition. . The amount of self-righteousness filling this page amazes me. Taking "lovers" or having "mistresses" is part of life. It happens in all classes. It is a natural part of being human. The Puritan element tries to cover that fact with religious stricture, or fear mongering.

Not all cheatings are adultery?

Cheating often applies to dating couples, where one person is not being faithful to the other person. Though cheating does occur in marriage, it is not limited to marriage. I do concur with your sentiment though, for homosexuality should be called sodomy, though abomination works for me too!

Cheating may be more suitable for dating couples but when used in reference to marriage it's simply a softening of the English language to make something bad sound not so bad. George Carlin had a good example when he spoke about using "post traumatic stress disorder" rather than "SHELL SHOCK!"

Because euphemisms rule the world. Like "stop loss" instead of "sending more troops to war." Or "no child left behind" instead of "who cares if they fail, just force them to the next grade." If politicians didn't get caught doing it, it would be called adultery.

I think either way, both words sound terrible. It's like saying "He killed him" rather than "He murdered him." Both convey something vile and hideous.

Because you can't say you got caught "commiting adultery" on a test.

Oh my I just asked my friend this question the other day. I only think it should be used for single people - once you're married it should be called "committing adultery".

Well, I prefer fornication, but i like it rough!

i think cheating is sed when ur like bf and gf when ur married it should be adultery

Probably because Adultery for the most part applies specifically to cheating within a marriage whereas cheating covers a much broader range of relationships other than just marriage. No matter what you call it though it is always wrong and there is never a valid excuse for it. People try to justify it by using excuses like I was drunk or High or my partner has no interest in being intimate with me etc. Those are all just ways people try to justify their actions but no matter what excuse you use it is still wrong. If you find yourself being attracted to someone other than your partner that should be a warning sign that your relationship with your partner is in serious trouble. Instead of jeopardizing it further by cheating or comitting adultery that is the time to wake up and if you truly love your partner do all in your power to fix what is broken rather than seeking comfort with someone other than your partner. If the relationship is beyond repair and you can honestly say you have done all in your power to make it work then and only then should you walk away and allow a respectable amount of time and space before getting involved with someone else. But that's just my opinion on the matter.

I think both words are accurate, it is the same thing. Not being faithful.

we dumb down everything else so why not try to make it not sound as bad... oh no with the PC police come and get me now???