pragmatic

adjective

prag·​mat·​ic prag-ˈma-tik 

variants or less commonly pragmatical

prag-ˈma-ti-kəl 

1

: relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters : practical as opposed to idealistic

a pragmatic leader

a pragmatic [=practical] approach to health care

2

: relating to or being in accordance with philosophical pragmatism

3

archaic

a(1)

: busy

(2)

: officious

b

: opinionated

pragmatic noun

pragmatically

prag-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Are you pragmatic?

The word pragmatic has been busy over its more than four centuries of use. Its earliest meanings were "busy," "meddlesome," and "opinionated," but those are now considered archaic uses. The word continues, as it has since the late 19th century, to be used in reference to the philosophical movement of pragmatism (see sense 2). And, as Merriam-Webster Unabridged reports, it also continues to be used in the field of history to describe that which deals with historical events in a way that shows their interconnection. Most often, however, we encounter pragmatic when it is being used to describe people—sometimes ourselves.

So what does it mean for a person to be pragmatic? A person who is pragmatic is concerned more with matters of fact than with what could or should be. A pragmatic person's realm is results and consequences. If that's where your focus is, you may want to apply the word to yourself.

Synonyms

• down-to-earth
• earthy
• hardheaded
• matter-of-fact
• practical
• realistic

Examples of pragmatic in a Sentence

In their universe, romance is totally detached from pragmatic concerns and societal pressures … —Lev Grossman, Time, 24 Jan. 2005

… their pragmatic successors like Benjamin Franklin were concerned with lightning's … power but not its thrilling scenic value. —John Updike, New York Review of Books, 15 Aug. 2002

… pragmatic enough to have held on to their day jobs for years after they were putting out records. —Chris Mundy, Rolling Stone, 16 Sept. 1993

… and her mysticism never failed to exasperate her pragmatic, mountain-climbing daughter. —Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses, 1989

His pragmatic view of public education comes from years of working in city schools.

a pragmatic man, not given to grand, visionary schemes

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Recent Examples on the Web

The entire exercise, thus far, has led to arguments and a sense of straying further from the light, especially because my mom doesn’t have an accurate understanding or pragmatic approach to money. —Alex Zaragoza, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2024

Is Climate change adaptation a pragmatic new answer or a solution chosen decades ago? —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Jan. 2024

Other Republicans, namely 18 GOP lawmakers from districts that Biden carried in the 2020 election, have called on Johnson to take a more pragmatic approach to budget cuts and stave off far-right attempts to include social policy in funding legislation. —Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2024

Originally played by 50 Cent in the flagship series, this rendition delves deeper into Kanan’s evolution from the devoted son of Raquel Thomas into the eventual ferocious, amoral and pragmatic personality fans know from Power. —Essence, 13 Dec. 2023

Most do not openly argue that Ukraine should simply give up its fight, but the pessimism, buttressed by supposedly pragmatic arguments, carries clear strategic implications that are both dangerous and wrong. —Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2023

Xi has apparently seen fit to reverse this pragmatic turn, and to do so by promoting a new concoction of Chinese traditions and socialism. —Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2023

Justice Elena Kagan also stressed the pragmatic aspects of the deal, noting that overwhelming majorities of those victims who voted on the plan approved it. —David Ovalle, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2023

Grok also has to balance humor with its ostensible pragmatic purpose: real-time answers. —Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 8 Dec. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Latin pragmaticus skilled in law or business, from Greek pragmatikos, from pragmat-, pragma deed, from prassein to do — more at practical

First Known Use

circa 1612, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing pragmatic

• pragmatic sanction

• pragmatic sanction

Kids Definition

pragmatic

adjective

prag·​mat·​ic prag-ˈmat-ik 

variants also pragmatical

-i-kəl 

: concerned with practical rather than intellectual or artistic matters

pragmatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb