practical effect
Americannoun
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.
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
It’s unclear what practical effect the settlement might have.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026
The judge said "the practical effect" of this "is that the defendant will be released once he has completed the punitive element, which I understand will be within the next week."
From BBC • May 20, 2025
In a statement, the university noted that a censure vote had no practical effect.
From New York Times • May 20, 2024
I reply that there is great use and practical effect in it too.
From Presidential Candidates: containing Sketches, Biographical, Personal and Political, of Prominent Candidates for the Presidency in 1860 by Bartlett, D. W.
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.
