praxis

noun

prax·​is ˈprak-səs 

plural praxes ˈprak-ˌsēz 

1

: action, practice: such as

a

: exercise or practice of an art, science, or skill

b

: customary practice or conduct

2

: practical application of a theory

Did you know?

We all know that praxis makes perfect, right? Oh wait, it’s practice, not praxis, that makes perfect! Worry not about confusing the two: as part of our educational praxis (how we act on our belief in the importance of providing information about language), we’ll sort them out here. Both praxis and practice come ultimately from the Greek verb prassein (“to do” or “to practice”), and both can refer to a habit or custom—that is, a usual way of doing something or of conducting oneself. Praxis, however, is more at home in formal, and often academic, writing; a sentence like “it is my praxis to eat breakfast cereal every morning” might make sense, but it’s not idiomatic. Praxis also has two meanings that are more specific; it can refer to the practice of an art, science, or skill, and it can also refer to the practical application of a theory, as in “democratic praxis” or “revolutionary praxis.”

Examples of praxis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Leibowitz’s positions were shaped by his understanding of Judaism as a religion of praxis, i.e., a normative system of mitzvot, biblical commandments in the Torah observed by practicing Jews, not as a political ideology or a national identity. —Moti Mizrahi, JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2023

Christian ethics and praxis are not a sentimental game of anything goes. —Bill Keane, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2024

The process is in many ways a form of therapy, offering her the space to channel visceral care into a deliberately slow artistic praxis. —Essence, 13 Feb. 2024

And 62,000 members and prospective members would represent quite a bit of praxis, given that in July, the company listed only 431 members on an internal company roster. —Joseph Bernstein, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Greek, doing, action, from prassein to do, practice — more at practical

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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