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practical

[ prak-ti-kuhl ]
/ ˈpræk tɪ kəl /
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See synonyms for: practical / practicality on Thesaurus.com
adjective
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Origin of practical

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English. See practic, -al1

synonym study for practical

7. Practical, judicious, sensible refer to good judgment in action, conduct, and the handling of everyday matters. Practical suggests the ability to adopt means to an end or to turn what is at hand to account: to adopt practical measures for settling problems. Judicious implies the possession and use of discreet judgment, discrimination, and balance: a judicious use of one's time. Sensible implies the possession and use of sound reason and shrewd common sense: a sensible suggestion.

OTHER WORDS FROM practical

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH practical

possible, practicable, practical (see synonym study at possible)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to practical

businesslike, constructive, down-to-earth, efficient, factual, feasible, functional, possible, practicable, pragmatic, rational, reasonable, sane, sensible, sober, workable, effective, sophisticated, applied, commonsensical

British Dictionary definitions for practical

practical
/ (ˈpræktɪkəl) /
adjective
of, involving, or concerned with experience or actual use; not theoretical
of or concerned with ordinary affairs, work, etc
adapted or adaptable for use
of, involving, or trained by practice
being such for all useful or general purposes; virtual
noun
an examination in the practical skills of a subjecta science practical

Derived forms of practical

practicality or practicalness, noun

Word Origin for practical

C17: from earlier practic, from French pratique, via Late Latin from Greek praktikos, from prassein to experience, negotiate, perform

usage for practical

A distinction is usually made between practical and practicable. Practical refers to a person, idea, project, etc, as being more concerned with or relevant to practice than theory: he is a very practical person; the idea had no practical application. Practicable refers to a project or idea as being capable of being done or put into effect: the plan was expensive, yet practicable
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with practical

practical

see to all intents and (for all practical) purposes.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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