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

She had voiced concern during the trial about the practicality of a breakup, saying it would take years because Google would appeal her ruling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

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

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

"This is borne of passion rather than practicality I guess," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

His smile could be magically disarming but his head was crowded with practicality and genius.

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez

The schools' names have been kept private, but it is understood that there were concerns from the Sussexes' security team about the "practicalities" of taking the children there.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

"Humanity has always needed the natural world for all the practicalities of life and for our mental wellbeing," Attenborough wrote.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

As SpaceX prepares to go public, investors are pondering the practicalities of Elon Musk’s multiplanetary vision.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 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

He made the honor roll every semester, but unburdened by practicalities, he had daydreams about leaving school, traveling the country à la Jack Kerouac—only writing songs instead of poems.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

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Related Words

• common-sense

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