practical
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to practice or action.
practical mathematics.
- Synonyms:
- pragmatic
-
consisting of, involving, or resulting from practice or action.
a practical application of a rule.
-
of, relating to, or concerned with ordinary activities, business, or work.
a habitual dreamer, who can't be bothered with practical affairs.
-
adapted or designed for actual use; useful.
practical instructions.
-
engaged or experienced in actual practice or work.
a practical politician credited with much legislation.
-
inclined toward or fitted for actual work or useful activities.
looking for a practical person to fill this position.
-
mindful of the results, usefulness, advantages or disadvantages, etc., of action or procedure.
- Antonyms:
- foolish, unwise, imprudent, ill-advised
-
being such in practice or effect; virtual.
Her promotion to manager is a practical certainty.
-
Theater. practicable.
adjective
-
of, involving, or concerned with experience or actual use; not theoretical
-
of or concerned with ordinary affairs, work, etc
-
adapted or adaptable for use
-
of, involving, or trained by practice
-
being such for all useful or general purposes; virtual
noun
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
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
- nonpractical adjective
- nonpractically adverb
- nonpracticalness noun
- practicality noun
- practicalness noun
- prepractical adjective
- quasi-practical adjective
- quasi-practically adverb
- semipractical adjective
- ultrapractical adjective
Etymology
Origin of practical
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English. See practic, -al 1
Explanation
A stapler is a practical object — it has a use. A hand-crocheted stapler cozy designed to keep a stapler warm at night? Not practical at all. The word practice, in the sense of "doing," is embedded in the word practical, which is all about "doing." "Is it practical?" means, is it good to do this? Does it have a use? Will it work? Silk shoes in a rainstorm? They're just not practical. A London Fog raincoat? Definitely practical.
Vocabulary lists containing practical
Positive Adjectives to Describe People
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Nothing But the Truth
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 13
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Researchers say the approach offers a "practical, scalable solution" to the "widespread loss" of essential coastal ecosystems.
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
"For all practical purposes, we are quite certain that he is cured," Myhre said.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
The dimness of the shuttle gallery also assists in the immersive fantasy, both as an artistic choice and a practical one due to the shuttle’s sensitivity to light.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
And there are the storage wars that rage within ourselves, between our practical and our sentimental sides, over the cost of storing things that deep down we know we will never need.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
I ate alone and walked back to my room in the snowy twilight, with a sour, humorless feeling as if I were the victim of a practical joke.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
