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.
That is partly because, until now, they have had no practical effect - before Burnham, there has not been a Catholic or Jewish prime minister.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
It wasn’t immediately clear what practical effect the revocation—which generally bars a visa holder from entering or re-entering the U.S.—would have on the ambassador, who is already in Washington.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 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
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 D. W. Bartlett
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.