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.

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Etymology

Origin of practical effect

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

practical effect

Choreographed by Nathan Kim, the practical effect looks fantastic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

"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

The practical effect is that the commodities moving between these communities are exchanged and pay for themselves, the running accounts being kept and settlements effected in the banks.

From Readings in Money and Banking Selected and Adapted by Phillips, Chester Arthur