practical reason
Americannoun
noun
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the faculty by which human beings determine how to act
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reasoning concerning the relative merits of actions
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the principles governing arguments which issue in actions or intentions to act
Etymology
Origin of practical reason
First recorded in 1895–1900
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.
Mr Taylor, who has written about Scottish personal names and place-names, said there was a good practical reason behind the tradition.
From BBC • Jan. 26, 2025
Many real-life animals known as hematophages that sustain themselves on blood for a more practical reason — survival.
From Salon • Oct. 31, 2024
But the king has gone there for a very practical reason, said former BBC royal reporter Michael Cole.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 8, 2024
Natalie Portman just shared her very practical reason for steering away from Method acting.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2024
The official ideology abounds with contradictions even where there is no practical reason for them.
From "1984" by George Orwell
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.
