PRACTICAL

Adjective

practical (comparative more practical, superlative most practical)

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.

Modern engineering applies science to practical problems.

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.

Of a person, having skills or knowledge that are practical.

All in all, Jack's a very practical chap.

(theater, not comparable) Of a prop: having some degree of functionality, rather than being a mere imitation.
(film) Light fixtures used for set lighting and seen in the frame of a shot as part of the scenery.

Practical lighting can help sell the illusion that the film is a real situation.

Usage notes

Example of use contrasted with practicable:

"While others might agree that it was practical to rewrite the entire section, it was not truly practicable given other considerations."

Antonyms

(based on practice or action): theoretical
(likely to be effective and applicable to a real situation): impractical
(of a person): impractical

Derived terms

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Related terms