An example of practicable is a plan to streamline business operations that is possible to implement.
practicable
- that can be done or put into practice; feasible: a practicable plan
- that can be used; usable; useful: a practicable tool
Origin of practicable
altered (based on practice) from French praticable from pratiquerpracticable
adjective
- Capable of being effected, done, or put into practice; feasible. See Synonyms at possible.
- Usable for a specified purpose: a practicable way of entry.
Origin of practicable
Medieval Latin prācticābilis capable of being used from prācticāre to practice from prāctica practice from Greek prāktikē practical science from feminine of prāktikos fit for action, practical from prāssein prāk- to make, doRelated Forms:
- prac′ti·ca·bil′i·ty
noun
- prac′ti·ca·bly
adverb
Usage Note: It is easy to confuse practicable and practical because they look so much alike and overlap in meaning. Practicable means “feasible” as well as “usable,” and it cannot be applied to persons. Practical has at least six meanings, including the sense “capable of being put into effect, useful,” wherein the confusion with practicable arises. But there is a subtle distinction between these words that is worth keeping. For the purpose of ordering coffee in a Parisian café, it would be practical (that is, useful) to learn some French, but it still might not be practicable for someone with a busy schedule and little time to learn.
practicable
(not comparable)
- Capable of being accomplished; feasible.
- Serving a useful function; useful, functional or handy.
- Available for use; accessible or employable.
Example of use contrasted with practical:
- "While others might agree that it really was practical to rewrite the entire section, it just was not truly practicable given other considerations."
From French praticable.
