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View synonyms for

practical

[prak-ti-kuhl]

adjective

  1. of or relating to practice or action.

    practical mathematics.

    Synonyms:
  2. consisting of, involving, or resulting from practice or action.

    a practical application of a rule.

  3. of, relating to, or concerned with ordinary activities, business, or work.

    a habitual dreamer, who can't be bothered with practical affairs.

  4. adapted or designed for actual use; useful.

    practical instructions.

  5. engaged or experienced in actual practice or work.

    a practical politician credited with much legislation.

  6. inclined toward or fitted for actual work or useful activities.

    looking for a practical person to fill this position.

  7. mindful of the results, usefulness, advantages or disadvantages, etc., of action or procedure.

    Antonyms: , , ,
  8. matter-of-fact; prosaic.

  9. being such in practice or effect; virtual.

    Her promotion to manager is a practical certainty.

  10. Theater.practicable.



practical

/ ˈæɪə /

adjective

  1. of, involving, or concerned with experience or actual use; not theoretical

  2. of or concerned with ordinary affairs, work, etc

  3. adapted or adaptable for use

  4. of, involving, or trained by practice

  5. being such for all useful or general purposes; virtual

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an examination in the practical skills of a subject

    a science practical

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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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
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Other Word Forms

  • practicality noun
  • practicalness noun
  • nonpractical adjective
  • nonpractically adverb
  • nonpracticalness noun
  • prepractical adjective
  • quasi-practical adjective
  • quasi-practically adverb
  • semipractical adjective
  • ultrapractical adjective
  • ˌپˈٲ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of practical1

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English. See practic, -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of practical1

C17: from earlier practic, from French pratique, via Late Latin from Greek praktikos, from prassein to experience, negotiate, perform
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Idioms and Phrases

see to all intents and (for all practical) purposes.
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Synonym Study

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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Flanagan traces Chuck’s life backward in time, letting us watch as the joy slips away, favored for an existence that prioritizes things that are practical and safe.

From

Navigating dating today, one has to be practical, and Song’s characters weigh risk and reward constantly, stopped by their heads before their hearts can do all the talking.

From

It had involved what they described as a "sickening amount" of sucking up, but meant that "in practical terms, they are probably as in as good a position as anybody".

From

There certainly were academic debates about democracy’s flaws, both practical and theoretical, but Fishkin’s interests seemed marginal to most of them.

From

Engineers advised it would "not be practical to remediate all or part of the damaged structure" and the tower was "especially damaged above the 10th floor".

From

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practicablepractical art