practical
Americanadjective
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of or relating to practice or action.
practical mathematics.
- Synonyms:
- pragmatic
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consisting of, involving, or resulting from practice or action.
a practical application of a rule.
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of, relating to, or concerned with ordinary activities, business, or work.
a habitual dreamer, who can't be bothered with practical affairs.
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adapted or designed for actual use; useful.
practical instructions.
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engaged or experienced in actual practice or work.
a practical politician credited with much legislation.
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inclined toward or fitted for actual work or useful activities.
looking for a practical person to fill this position.
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mindful of the results, usefulness, advantages or disadvantages, etc., of action or procedure.
- Antonyms:
- foolish, unwise, imprudent, ill-advised
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being such in practice or effect; virtual.
Her promotion to manager is a practical certainty.
-
Theater. practicable.
adjective
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of, involving, or concerned with experience or actual use; not theoretical
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of or concerned with ordinary affairs, work, etc
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adapted or adaptable for use
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of, involving, or trained by practice
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being such for all useful or general purposes; virtual
noun
Usage
A distinction is usually made between practical and practicable. Practical refers to a person, idea, project, etc, as being more concerned with or relevant to practice than theory: he is a very practical person; the idea had no practical application. Practicable refers to a project or idea as being capable of being done or put into effect: the plan was expensive, yet practicable
Related Words
Practical, judicious, sensible refer to good judgment in action, conduct, and the handling of everyday matters. Practical suggests the ability to adopt means to an end or to turn what is at hand to account: to adopt practical measures for settling problems. Judicious implies the possession and use of discreet judgment, discrimination, and balance: a judicious use of one's time. Sensible implies the possession and use of sound reason and shrewd common sense: a sensible suggestion.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of practical
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English. See practic, -al 1
Explanation
A stapler is a practical object — it has a use. A hand-crocheted stapler cozy designed to keep a stapler warm at night? Not practical at all. The word practice, in the sense of "doing," is embedded in the word practical, which is all about "doing." "Is it practical?" means, is it good to do this? Does it have a use? Will it work? Silk shoes in a rainstorm? They're just not practical. A London Fog raincoat? Definitely practical.
Vocabulary lists containing practical
Positive Adjectives to Describe People
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List 13
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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.
Powderly said that the prospect of dealing with the claims on a case-by-case basis was "neither realistic nor practical", but added that this would have prolonged matters for years with "no guarantee of outcomes".
From BBC • May 19, 2026
And experts in city law and social services say the policies he has advanced — including mandatory treatment and arrests — face huge legal, financial and practical hurdles.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
A more practical concern: reduced commissions can make it harder to bring other agents to the table.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
The finding supports a practical message for readers: the Mediterranean diet is not only about eating less or eating more plants.
From Science Daily • May 19, 2026
She was a more practical accidentalist than he was.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
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.
