pragmatic
adjective Also prag·mat·i·cal (for defs 1, 2, 5).
noun
Origin of pragmatic
OTHER WORDS FROM pragmatic
Words nearby pragmatic
VOCAB BUILDER
What does pragmatic mean?
Pragmatic means practical, especially when making decisions.
The word pragmatic is often contrasted with the word idealistic, which means based on or having high principles or ideals. Pragmatic, on the other hand, means based on real world conditions or circumstances—considering what can realistically be done as opposed to the best theoretical course of action. A person who acts pragmatically can be called a pragmatist.
The noun form of pragmatic is pragmatism. Pragmatism can mean the practice of being pragmatic, but it can also more specifically refer to the philosophical movement that emphasizes practical consequences in the determination of meaning, truth, or value.
Example: We need a candidate who’s pragmatic and can get things done in the real world—not some idealist who will never compromise.
Where does pragmatic come from?
The first records of the word pragmatic come from the 1580s. It comes from the Greek pragmatikós, meaning “practical,” from pragma, meaning “act,” from prā́ssein, “to do.” The words practical and praxis derive from the same root.
Idealistic people are sometimes told they need to be more pragmatic. Typically, this means that they should focus on the realistic options or courses of action (the pragmatic ones) instead of only trying to achieve the best-case scenario—the one based on their ideals. Of course, many people navigate life with a balance of pragmatism and idealism: sometimes they compromise, and sometimes they stick to their principles no matter what.
The word pragmatic isn’t always contrasted with idealistic. Sometimes, it’s just used as a way of describing something as practical, logical, or sensible. The word is most often applied to people, actions, or plans.
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What are some other forms related to pragmatic?
- pragmatism (noun)
- pragmatist (noun)
- pragmatically (adverb)
What are some synonyms for pragmatic?
What are some words that share a root or word element with pragmatic?
What are some words that often get used in discussing pragmatic?
How is pragmatic used in real life?
Pragmatic is commonly used in a positive way to praise choices or actions that are considered practical and reasonable. It’s often applied to political positions or actions.
I hate Twitter takes. Almost no one that you actually see on the timeline takes a pragmatic, middle of the road position (that takes arguments from each side into account) because it doesn’t get as much engagement & therefore isn’t rewarded by the timeline Algorithm.
— Robotbeat🗽🖖🏾 (@Robotbeat) May 9, 2020
ideal product leader's ethos:
super optimistic about future, pragmatic about progress, paranoid about the present, unencumbered by the past.— scott belsky (@scottbelsky) May 8, 2020
Education and career opportunities of our students are under threat. Governments need to be pragmatic to promote them based on their past performance and waive their tuition fees. We must also adhere to the academic calendar using technological solutions #WaiveFeePromoteStudents
— Congress Sevadal (@CongressSevadal) May 11, 2020
Try using pragmatic!
Which of the following words is LEAST like to describe an action considered pragmatic?
A. realistic
B. sensible
C. utilitarian
D. idealistic