applied
Americanadjective
-
having a practical purpose or use; derived from or involved with actual phenomena (distinguished from theoretical,opposed to pure).
applied mathematics; applied science.
-
of or relating to those arts or crafts that have a primarily utilitarian function, or to the designs and decorations used in these arts.
Her goal was to integrate aesthetics into everyday life through an applied art, particularly with her hand-painted dinner plates.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of applied
Explanation
Something applied is practical, having to do with real-world situations and problems. Applied physics puts physics into use. If you have a mysterious lump, thank applied physics for the MRI the doctor uses to look inside your body. To apply is to make use of something, like applying a coat of paint. The past participle, applied describes things related to solving concrete problems, rather than dealing with ideas, principles, or philosophy. Applied chemistry, applied physics, and the applied sciences as a whole have to do with real-world issues. The opposite of applied is theoretical, which is only concerned with ideas.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Altogether, the treatments cost more than a month’s worth of rent, even with insurance applied when possible.
From Slate • May 23, 2026
To achieve this audacious goal, Musk’s top engineers had to make satellites faster and cheaper—so they applied “The Algorithm.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
A 2025 study in Foods developed a modified QuEChERS method with a freeze out step and applied it to 302 retail food samples.
From Science Daily • May 22, 2026
We have applied this process diligently at every stage.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
While waiting for a reply, Bobby applied for a passport and then submitted an application for a visa to enter Russia.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
