pragmatic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a practical point of view or practical considerations.
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Philosophy. of or relating to pragmatism.
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of or relating to pragmatics.
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treating historical phenomena with special reference to their causes, antecedent conditions, and results.
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of or relating to the affairs of state or community.
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Archaic.
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busy; active.
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officious; meddlesome; interfering.
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dogmatic; opinionated.
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noun
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Archaic. an officious or meddlesome person.
adjective
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advocating behaviour that is dictated more by practical consequences than by theory or dogma
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philosophy of or relating to pragmatism
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involving everyday or practical business
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of or concerned with the affairs of a state or community
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rare interfering or meddlesome; officious
Usage
What does pragmatic mean? Pragmatic means practical, especially when making decisions. The word pragmatic is often contrasted with the word idealistic, which means based on or having high principles or ideals. Pragmatic, on the other hand, means based on real world conditions or circumstances—considering what can realistically be done as opposed to the best theoretical course of action. A person who acts pragmatically can be called a pragmatist. The noun form of pragmatic is pragmatism. Pragmatism can mean the practice of being pragmatic, but it can also more specifically refer to the philosophical movement that emphasizes practical consequences in the determination of meaning, truth, or value. Example: We need a candidate who’s pragmatic and can get things done in the real world—not some idealist who will never compromise.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pragmatic
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin prāgmaticus, from Greek prāgmatikós “practical,” equivalent to prāgmat-, stem of prâgma “deed, state business,” derivative of prā́ssein “to do, fare” + -ikos -ic; see practic
Explanation
To describe a person or a solution that takes a realistic approach, consider the adjective pragmatic. The four-year-old who wants a unicorn for her birthday isn't being very pragmatic. The opposite of idealistic is pragmatic, a word that describes a philosophy of "doing what works best." From Greek pragma, "deed," the word has historically described philosophers and politicians who were concerned more with real-world application of ideas than with abstract notions. A pragmatic person is sensible, grounded, and practical — and doesn't expect a birthday celebration filled with magical creatures.
Vocabulary lists containing pragmatic
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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.
“Shortening the seasoning period to six months is a pragmatic evolution,” former S&P Dow Jones Indices CEO Alex Matturri wrote on LinkedIn.
From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026
“She’s smart as a whip and she’s listening and trying to work on things that are pragmatic and having real impact on people in our community,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
India has its own foreign policy of strategic autonomy, where it looks at each issue from its own pragmatic interests—a stance it has often cited to justify its purchases of Russian oil despite U.S. criticism.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
He was sacked after 39 days, then Sean Dyche, the supposedly pragmatic choice, lasted only 114.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
“I still don’t understand why you don’t just go to her family?” asks Kim, pragmatic as ever.
From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman
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.
