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practical effect

American

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

noun

Movies, Television.

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.

The practical effect of those milestones has helped spur others to chase Musk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

It’s unclear what practical effect the settlement might have.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

The practical effect of their objection is that the case has been delayed until at least 10am on Wednesday - which means both sides have more time to negotiate.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2025

But those areas are not contiguous, and the practical effect is that secondhand smoke is present in varying degrees throughout the casino floor.

From Seattle Times • May 13, 2024

The practical effect of this theory is to throw on the union men the burden of responsibility for the unorganized condition of the industries.

From The Great Steel Strike and its Lessons by Foster, William Z.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023