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practical effect

American  
[prak-ti-kuhl i-fekt] / ˈpræk tɪ kəl ɪˈfɛkt /

noun

Movies, Television.
  1. Usually practical effects a special effect that is created live on the set of a film, using real-world objects.


Etymology

Origin of practical effect

First recorded in 1980–85

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.

See Examples For:

"The practical effect of this lawsuit is to shield those dominant streaming platforms like Netflix and technology companies from much needed competition," a Paramount spokesperson said.

From Barron's Jul. 13, 2026

The immediate practical effect is clear: The EAC cannot act.

From Salon Jul. 11, 2026

The practical effect may be minimal since the litigation probably won’t be fully resolved before the law’s 150-day shot-clock for imposing the tariffs ends on July 24.

From The Wall Street Journal May 8, 2026

Benfica said they would appeal the decision, but accepted it was unlikely to "have any practical effect" before Wednesday's return at the Bernabeu.

From BBC Feb. 25, 2026

His proposal was so much the more readily accepted that it was suited to carry into practical effect, to a more than ordinary degree, the motto of the Order—Pauperes evangelizantur.

From The Canadian Portrait Gallery - Volumes 1 to 4 by Dent, John Charles

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