pragmatic

[ prag-mat-ik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a practical point of view or practical considerations.
2. Philosophy. of or relating to pragmatism ( def 2 ).
3. of or relating to pragmatics ( def 1, 2 ).
4. treating historical phenomena with special reference to their causes, antecedent conditions, and results.
5. of or relating to the affairs of state or community.
6. Archaic.
   1. busy; active.
   2. officious; meddlesome; interfering.
   3. dogmatic; opinionated.

noun

1. pragmatic sanction.
2. Archaic. an officious or meddlesome person.

pragmatic

/ præɡˈmætɪk /

adjective

1. advocating behaviour that is dictated more by practical consequences than by theory or dogma
2. philosophy of or relating to pragmatism
3. involving everyday or practical business
4. of or concerned with the affairs of a state or community
5. rare.
   interfering or meddlesome; officious

Derived Forms

• pragˌmatiˈcality, noun
• pragˈmatically, adverb

Other Words From

• prag·mati·cali·ty prag·mati·cal·ness noun
• prag·mati·cal·ly adverb
• anti·prag·matic adjective
• anti·prag·mati·cal adjective
• anti·prag·mati·cal·ly adverb
• nonprag·matic adjective noun
• nonprag·mati·cal adjective
• nonprag·mati·cal·ly adverb
• unprag·matic adjective
• unprag·mati·cal adjective
• unprag·mati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pragmatic¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin prāgmaticus, from Greek prāgmatikós “practical,” equivalent to prāgmat-, stem of prâgma “deed, state business,” derivative of prā́ssein “to do, fare” + -ikos -ic; practic

Word History and Origins

Origin of pragmatic¹

C17: from Late Latin prāgmaticus, from Greek prāgmatikos from pragma act, from prattein to do

Example Sentences

But, as far as I can discern, they do focused, pragmatic work.

From The Daily Beast

Chase supplements this general directive with some more pragmatic suggestions for women looking to find sexual fulfillment.

From The Daily Beast

Mixner, both passionate and pragmatic, found a focus in his activism.

From The Daily Beast

Fairchild considers herself a pragmatic liberal—a registered Democrat and “kind of a boring moderate.”

From The Daily Beast

The aim is very pragmatic and much less idealistic than, say, similar protests in Egypt or Turkey in the last few years.

From The Daily Beast

Which runs directly into the throat of said Pragmatic Sanction; and engages to make it, mere waste sheepskin, so to speak!

From Project Gutenberg

His father had guaranteed the pragmatic sanction, but as the conditions on which the guarantee had Frederick the Great.

From Project Gutenberg

The operation once accomplished on its own Pragmatic Covenant, France found no difficulty with the others.

From Project Gutenberg

Pragmatic Sanction like to be ruined; and Walpole furiously thrown out: what a pair of sorrows for poor George!

From Project Gutenberg

It is pragmatic; the patient is taught that his thinking is a way of functioning; that ideas are instruments, ways of acting.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• businesslike
• down-to-earth
• efficient
• hardheaded
• logical
• practical
• realistic
• sober