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Added 8 October 2026

practical

/ˈpɹæk.tɪ.kəl/ adjective

Categories: Describing WordsEveryday Words

Latin root: practicālis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about practical at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Relating to, or based on, practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis.
    Jack didn't get an engineering degree, but has practical knowledge of metalworking.
  2. Being likely to be effective and applicable to a real situation; able to be put to use.
    Jack's knowledge has the practical benefit of giving us useful prototype parts.
  3. Of a person, having skills or knowledge that are practical.
    All in all, Jack's a very practical chap.

noun

  1. A part of an exam or series of exams in which the candidate has to demonstrate practical ability.
  2. A prop that has some degree of functionality, rather than being a mere imitation.
  3. A light fixture used for set lighting and seen in the frame of a shot as part of the scenery.

Origin

From Middle English practical, practicale, praktycall, from Medieval Latin practicālis.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: hard-nosedpragmaticpragmaticalrealisticapplicablematter-of-factpracticablefunctionalapplicatoryapplicativeserviceableapplied

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