practical reason

noun

1. (in Kantian ethics) reason applied to the problem of action and choice, especially in ethical matters.

practical reason

noun

1. the faculty by which human beings determine how to act
2. reasoning concerning the relative merits of actions
3. the principles governing arguments which issue in actions or intentions to act

Word History and Origins

Origin of practical reason¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Many real-life animals known as hematophages that sustain themselves on blood for a more practical reason — survival.

From Salon

So there’s a practical reason there.

From Slate

Mr Brown added: "Bearing in mind the person said they don't keep to the consent procedure because of practical reason, it is not a big leap to say there's lots of other people involved."

From BBC

All of which leads to the second, more practical reason I was wrong to doubt Bragg’s indictment: I thought any trial Trump faced before 2024 should be about the election.

From Slate

But the king has gone there for a very practical reason, said former BBC royal reporter Michael Cole.

From Seattle Times