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DictionarypracticalEveryday usefulness
adjective / noun

practical

PRAK-tih-kuhl/ˈpræktɪkl/

Concerned with useful action or hands-on experience.

The sturdy boots are a practical choice for walking along the muddy path.

Simple sturdy rain boots used effectively on a muddy path.
Etymology
practicGreekfit for action, effective
+alLatinpertaining to

Praktikos described something fit for action or effective. With the adjective ending, practical concerns putting knowledge into use rather than leaving it as theory—the basis of its association with useful, workable results.

In context

Writing with Andrew4:12
it instead we're dealing with an actual policy and trying to figure out a way forward in that sense this second argument is no longer about conceptual ideas it's about practical reality
The Persuasive Power of N U A N C E

More examples

  • The course combines classroom lessons with practical experience repairing engines.
  • For the biology practical, we identify cells under a microscope.
  • A folding table is a practical choice for this small kitchen.

Forms

practical · practicals · more practical · most practical

practicality noun — The quality of being useful and sensible.

Similar words

useful
Emphasizes serving a purpose, without necessarily involving hands-on experience.
pragmatic
Emphasizes workable decisions rather than ideals or fixed principles.
applied
Describes knowledge put to use rather than studied theoretically.