practicality

American  

[prak-ti-kal-i-tee] / ˌpræk tɪˈkæl ɪ ti /

Rarely practicalness

noun

plural

practicalities

1. the quality of being adapted or designed for actual use; usefulness or convenience.

   Your home furniture choices should be based on practicality, durability, and beauty.

2. interest in or inclination toward actual work or activity as opposed to theories or ideas.

   My mother was an entrepreneur whose tremendous vision, teamed with her practicality, “moved mountains.”

3. a detail or consideration involved in putting something into action.

   She talked with culinary students about their dreams as well as the practicalities of launching a food business.

4. the constraints or demands of real life or actual implementation.

   Economy and practicality dictate that we can't save every green space from development.

5. the quality or fact of relating to actual activity, especially ordinary or everyday activity.

   I appreciate the real-world practicality of the question, “What does it mean to be a father?”

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Other Word Forms

• nonpracticality noun

Etymology

Origin of practicality

practical ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

The administration adapted its plan on Friday after shipowners and insurers questioned its practicality.

From The Wall Street Journal

And then there are the practicalities of dealing with a puppy in a school.

From BBC

British officials are currently looking into the practicalities of deploying to escort cargoes through the Strait, but officials familiar with the matter say no final decision has been made.

From The Wall Street Journal

Norway’s maritime insurer Skuld, one of a few global companies in the business, said that while the administration’s plans are “encouraging,” the “practicalities of implementation are far from straightforward.”

From MarketWatch

Not every company that connects practicality with Valentine’s Day is necessarily expecting or seeing a huge boost in sales.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• common-sense