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practical definition

prac·ti·cal (prak′ti kəl)

adjective

  1. of, exhibited in, or obtained through practice or action practical knowledge
    1. usable; workable; useful and sensible practical proposals
    2. designed for use; utilitarian
  3. concerned with the application of knowledge to useful ends, rather than with theory, speculation, etc. practical science
  4. given to, or experienced from, actual practice a practical farmer
  5. of, concerned with, or dealing realistically and sensibly with everyday activities, work, etc.
  6. that is so in practice, whether or not in theory, law, etc.; virtual
  7. matter-of-fact; prosaic

Etymology: practic + -al

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms practical idiom

practical Synonyms

practical

modif.

matter-of-fact, pragmatic, unimaginative, solid, practicable, feasible, workable, functional, useful, sound, sound-thinking, down-to-earth, unromantic, unsentimental, unidealistic, hardheaded, realistic, sensible, sane, reasonable, rational, to one's advantage, operative, utilitarian, possible, usable, serviceable, efficient, effective, working, nuts-and-bolts*, with both feet on the ground*.

Antonyms impractical*, visionary*, impracticable*, unserviceable.

practical, when used of things, stresses usefulness and effectiveness as tested by actual experience, and when used of people, stresses a sensible, realistic approach to life or to the particular circumstances; practicable is used of something that appears to be capable of being done or put into effect, but has not yet been developed or tried before the era of electronics, television did not seem practicable; today it is but one of the practical applications of the science


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

practical Usage Examples

Preposition: with

  • lot: Katie Kift of Rickerbys All those who attended found it interesting, worthwhile, entertaining and practical with lots of opportunity to participate.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • do: I didn't like studying ( I wanted to do something practical ) or campus life.

Modifies a noun

  • advice: Trusted, practical advice on your desktop ORDER TODAY!

Modifying Another Word

  • eminently: Review: This eminently practical book reaches out to you in a real way.

Used with adjective complement

  • demonstrate: We are looking for graduates and post-graduates who can demonstrate practical problem-solving skills, maturity, and evidence of teamwork and initiative.
practical usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

practical quotes

Don't be 'practical' in politics. To be practical in that sense means that you have schooled yourself to think along the lines, and in the grooves that those who rob you would desire you to think.

-Connolly,James

Whoever, in the pursuit of science, seeks after immediate practical utility may rest assured that he seeks in vain.

-Helmholtz, Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von

   Totakeanalmost religiousview, thisearthisnothing very special.There have probably been millions of earths just like ours each producing a particular intelligent species. That isnottosay thattheyall developed well, thattheyall achieved some sort of perfection. And if the planner made lots of them and some of them chose to destroy themselves,thenwe canonlysupposethattheplanner is a hard and practical man.

-Hoyle, Sir Fred

practical quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"practical." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/practical>

APA Style

practical. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/practical

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