impractical

adjective

im·​prac·​ti·​cal (ˌ)im-ˈprak-ti-kəl 

: not practical: such as

a

: not wise to put into or keep in practice or effect

b

: incapable of dealing sensibly or prudently with practical matters

c

: impracticable

d

: idealistic

impracticality

(ˌ)im-ˌprak-ti-ˈka-lə-tē 

noun

impractically

(ˌ)im-ˈprak-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• impracticable
• inoperable
• nonpractical
• unserviceable
• unusable
• unworkable
• useless

Examples of impractical in a Sentence

Little sports cars are impractical for large families.

He was a dreamy and impractical young man.

Recent Examples on the Web

Real estate investments, including rental properties, (DSTs) with cash if a 1031 exchange is impractical, or real estate investment trusts (REITs), can produce regular income through rental payments. —Fred Hubler, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

This highly contentious deal was criticized for being inhumane and impractical at the time. —Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Aguilar, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, downplayed impeachment talk as impractical to reporters Tuesday. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025

While extended vacations may be impractical during economic downturns, the core idea remains relevant: managers must champion employee well-being to sustain performance. —Anjali Chaudhry, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for impractical

• syntactical
• unpractical
• practical
• tactical

Kids Definition

impractical

adjective

im·​prac·​ti·​cal (ˈ)im-ˈprak-ti-kəl 

: not practical: as

a

: not wise to put into or keep in practice or effect

an impractical rule disliked by many

b

: incapable of dealing sensibly with practical matters

c

: impracticable

the new gadgets were complicated and impractical

impracticality

(ˌ)im-ˌprak-ti-ˈkal-ət-ē 

noun

impractically

(ˈ)im-ˈprak-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb