in practice

idiom

used to say what is actually done or what the actual effect or result of something is
The software is designed to block pornographic websites, but in practice, it blocks many other sites as well.
In actual practice, people sometimes forget to take their medication.

Examples of in practice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Or how few snaps Johnson’s had with the 1s in practice this year. David Aldridge, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025 But in practice, things didn't work out that way. Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025 Joe Thomas went against Myles Garrett in practice for just one season — Thomas’ last year in the NFL was the same year Garrett went first overall out of Texas A&M. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025 Jean-Pierre is an artifact of an age that looks recent on paper but feels prehistoric in practice—the age of pantsuits, the word ’empowerment,’ the musical Hamilton, the cheap therapeutic entreaties to ‘work on yourself’ and ‘lean in’ to various corporate abysses. Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for in practice

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20practice. Accessed 24 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!