practicality

American  

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

Rarely practicalness

noun

• practicalities
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• nonpracticality
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• practicalities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of practicality

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

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Explanation

Something that demonstrates practicality makes good sense. If you choose your new shoes based on their practicality, you'll probably buy a pair of sneakers, rather than knee-high boots with five inch heels. A person's practicality can also be called common sense, and an object or action's practicality has to do with how efficient or suitable it is. The practicality of doctors carefully washing their hands before surgery is clear, while the practicality of dressing your dog in a ballerina costume is less so. The root of practicality is practical, which in turn comes from the Old French word practique, "fit for action."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

practicality practicalities

Also, artificial intelligence CEOs are urging a slowdown, but the practicality of doing so is questionable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

That is met by a resistance from television executives and the practicality of New York life, with many fans unlikely to arrive at Flushing Meadows much before 7pm.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

You think about the practicality of your wardrobe based on how your day is looking or what the weather forecast says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Double sauce is not necessary, but I like a little indulgence underscoring the practicality of a packable meal.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

He agreed that the US program should be ramped up to recover the American lead in nuclear weaponry, but he thought his visitors’ fancies had far outrun the practicality of the Super.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

For all the vital high-level talk about plans and policy, there are also the basic practicalities of the preparation for the big move-in day, when everything official changes.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

Although the practicalities and cost of sending a team to South America in 1950 was daunting.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

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 ● Mar. 5, 2026

Can you talk through the practicalities of having an open-air practice?

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026

There was a little pause as Lazlo considered the practicalities of life in the citadel.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

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Related Words

• common-sense

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