practical

adjective

prac·ti·cal | \ ˈprak-ti-kəl

Definition of practical

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : of, relating to, or manifested in practice or action : not theoretical or ideal a practical question for all practical purposes

b : being such in practice or effect : virtual a practical failure

2 : actively engaged in some course of action or occupation a practical farmer

3 : capable of being put to use or account : useful he had a practical knowledge of French

4a : disposed to action as opposed to speculation or abstraction

b(1) : qualified by practice or practical training a good practical mechanic

(2) : designed to supplement theoretical training by experience

5 : concerned with voluntary action and ethical decisions practical reason

practical

noun

Definition of practical (Entry 2 of 2)

: an examination requiring demonstration of some practical skill a zoology practical

Other Words from practical Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about practical

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Other Words from practical

Adjective

practicality \ ˌprak-ti-ˈka-lə-tē

\ noun

practicalness \ ˈprak-ti-kəl-nəs

\ noun

Examples of practical in a Sentence

Adjective

We can speculate about the future, but on a more practical level, we have to admit that we simply don't know what will happen. An engineer will address the design's practical problems. She has a lot of practical experience in dealing with these kinds of problems. practical solutions to complicated problems He thinks wind can be a practical source of renewable energy. The machine is too big to be practical for most private homes. The shoes are nice, but they're not very practical. The book is a practical guide to car care. He gave me some practical advice on finding a job.

Noun

We have our zoology practicals next week.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

But each of those ideas presented new obstacles, whether practical, legal, or political. — Christopher Flavelle, BostonGlobe.com, "Even as floods worsen with climate change, fewer people insure against disaster," 8 June 2019 In 2000, she was recruited by UNESCO to found Madesa (Manufacturing and Design Academy of South Africa), which taught women practical and artistic skills in various artistic and entrepreneurial practices. — Lauren Smart, Dallas News, "Fiber artist Sheila Hicks weaves storytelling into her custom installations," 6 June 2019 She was described by family as intelligent, organized, practical, inquisitive, a stickler for proper grammar, a survivor in difficult situations, and a gentlewoman. — Bonnie L. Cook, https://www.inquirer.com, "Gladys Palmer Bewley O’Brien, 96, former director of the Haddonfield Public Library," 5 June 2019 Hoelscher also said the new system raises practical as well as legal problems. — Elizabeth Zavala, ExpressNews.com, "City-county magistration feud heats up in San Antonio," 5 June 2019 In the spirit of the property, Konig installed a traditional-style kitchen by Plain English and a large and practical stone-floored mudroom to stand up to plenty of wet boots. — Sadie Stein, ELLE Decor, "Explore This Charming Victorian Farmhouse in the English Countryside," 24 May 2019 Concrete Pros: Versatile, practical, chic, and modern when well designed, concrete is a surprisingly good deck material option. — Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, "How to Choose the Best Deck Material for Your House," 22 May 2019 Shutterstock While other cities were painted blue for religious or practical reasons, Juzcar, Spain, went all-blue in the summer of 2011 as a promotional campaign for the Smurfs movie. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The 25 most colorful cities in the world," 19 Feb. 2019 In Victoria's case, that means everything has to be super practical: Clothes are made for wearing and food is meant for eating—no fuss about it. — Leah Melby Clinton, Marie Claire, "The Getting-Dressed Trick That Helps Your Career," 16 Apr. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'practical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near practical

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Last Updated

15 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for practical

The first known use of practical was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for practical

practical

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of practical

(Entry 1 of 2)

: relating to what is real rather than to what is possible or imagined

: likely to succeed and reasonable to do or use

: appropriate or suited for actual use

practical

noun

English Language Learners Definition of practical (Entry 2 of 2)

chiefly British : an examination in which students have to do or make something to show what they have learned

See the full definition for practical in the English Language Learners Dictionary

practical

adjective

prac·ti·cal | \ ˈprak-ti-kəl

Kids Definition of practical

1 : of or relating to real action rather than ideas or thought practical matters

2 : capable of being put to use : reasonable to do or use practical advice Those shoes are nice, but these are more practical.

3 : tending to act according to reason and logic Beezus, always practical, changed her mind. “It wouldn't work.”— Beverly Cleary, Ramona Quimby a practical person