practicality
gb/pɹˌæktɪkˈæləti/ us/pɹˌæktɪkˈæləti/
B2
English
praktikusság, megvalósíthatóság, gyakorlatiasság, pragmatizmus
NOUN
B2
1
praktikusság
B2
Usage pattern:
the practicality of [something]
She liked the design, but she questioned its practicality for everyday use.
Tetszett neki a kialakítás, de kétségei voltak afelől, mennyire praktikus a mindennapi használatra.
In a small apartment, practicality is more important than having lots of decorative furniture.
Egy kis lakásban a praktikusság fontosabb, mint a sok díszbútor.
The team admired his creativity, but they also needed his practicality.
Learner examples
Practicality is important when you buy a car.
Autóvásárláskor fontos a praktikusság.
I chose this bag for its practicality.
A praktikussága miatt ezt a táskát választottam.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use practicality to mean only 'usefulness'; it more often implies sensible, workable choices.
Meaning
being practical and sensible
Collocations
consider practicality
|value practicality
|emphasize practicality
|prioritize practicality
|balance practicality and style
|a sense of practicality
|the need for practicality
|practicality matters
|practicality wins out
|practicality over perfection
Synonyms
pragmatism (Often suggests a broader attitude or approach, not just a quality of a plan or object.)
|
sense (More general; practicality specifically focuses on what works in real conditions.)
Antonyms
impracticality (The quality of not being workable or sensible in real situations.)
|
idealism (Focus on ideals rather than what is workable or realistic.)
Themes
daily_life
|decision_making
|work
Definition
the quality of choosing what works best in real life
The quality of being practical, sensible, and focused on what will work in real situations.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
assess/evaluate the practicality of [doing something]
They agreed on the goal but debated the practicality of moving the deadline forward by two weeks.
Egyetértettek a céllal, de vitatták a határidő két héttel való előrehozásának megvalósíthatóságát.
The report highlights the practicality of using solar panels in colder climates.
A jelentés kiemeli a napelemek hidegebb éghajlaton való használatának megvalósíthatóságát.
We need to look at the practicality of supporting customers across multiple time zones.
Learner examples
We discussed the practicality of the plan.
Megbeszéltük a terv megvalósíthatóságát.
Is it practical to finish this today?
Megvalósítható ezt még ma befejezni?
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse practicality (feasibility) with profitability (making money); a plan can be practical but not profitable.
Meaning
how feasible something is
Collocations
assess the practicality
|evaluate the practicality
|question the practicality
|test the practicality
|the practicality of the proposal
|the practicality of the idea
|the practicality of implementing
|practicality concerns
|practicality issues
|from a practicality standpoint
Synonyms
viability (Often implies long-term ability to succeed, not just immediate workability.)
|
workability (More direct and informal; emphasizes whether it will function in practice.)
Antonyms
infeasibility (The state of not being possible to do in real conditions.)
|
unworkability (Emphasizes that a plan will not work in practice.)
Themes
business
|planning
|problem_solving
Definition
how possible something is to do in real life
The degree to which something is feasible or suitable in real conditions, considering limits such as time, money, rules, or available resources.
NOUN
C1
3
pragmatizmus
C1
Usage pattern:
choose [something] for practicality; a clash between practicality and [something]
He loved the idea of traveling for a year, but practicality kept pulling him back to his job.
Imádta az ötletet, hogy egy évig utazzon, de a gyakorlati szempontok mindig visszahúzták a munkájához.
The policy is ambitious, but it ignores the realities of practicality in local schools.
Az intézkedés ambiciózus, de figyelmen kívül hagyja a helyi iskolák mindennapi működésének gyakorlati korlátait.
Their relationship works because they balance romance with practicality.
Learner examples
Sometimes practicality is more important than dreams.
Néha a gyakorlatiasság fontosabb, mint az álmok.
We chose practicality over style.
A stílus helyett a gyakorlati szempontokat választottuk.
Common mistake:
This sense is about an approach or priority (practical needs), not just whether something is possible.
Meaning
focus on practical needs
Collocations
practicality over theory
|a matter of practicality
|out of practicality
|for reasons of practicality
|the demands of practicality
|practicality versus principle
|practicality versus idealism
|choose practicality
|driven by practicality
|the voice of practicality
Synonyms
pragmatism (Often used for a general outlook; practicality can sound more everyday and less philosophical.)
|
down-to-earthness (More informal; describes a person’s attitude more than a decision-making principle.)
Antonyms
idealism (Prioritizing ideals and principles over workable outcomes.)
|
theorizing (Focusing on theory rather than concrete results.)
Themes
education
|decision_making
|work
Definition
thinking about real needs and results, not ideas only
An emphasis on practical needs and results rather than theory, principles, or ideal goals.
Grammar
Dictionary form
practicality
IPA
GB/pɹˌæktɪkˈæləti/
US/pɹˌæktɪkˈæləti/
Syllables & stress
prac - tic - al - ity (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (al)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: practicality
- Plural: practicalities, practicality
Word family
Forms
practicalities
noun
Core family
practical
adjective A2
practically
adverb B1
Related words
practice
noun A2
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
practicable
adjective C1
practicability
noun
Expressions
a matter of practicality
1/ə mˈætɚ əv pɹˌæktɪkˈæləti/
fixed phrase
based on what works
it depends on what is possible and sensible
Examples
- We moved closer to the office as a matter of practicality, not because we preferred the area.
- Choosing public transport was a matter of practicality after the car broke down.
- It’s a matter of practicality: we simply don’t have enough staff to run two locations.
Learner examples
- It was a matter of practicality.
- We chose it for practicality.
for all practical purposes
1/fɚ ˈɔl pɹˈæktɪkəl pˈɚpəsɪz/
idiom
Effectively or almost completely true
Almost completely true or the same as something else in most situations.
Examples
- For all practical purposes, the project is finished.
- The two systems are, for all practical purposes, identical.
for all practical purposes
1/fɚ ˈɔl pɹˈæktɪkəl pˈɚpəsɪz/
idiom
effectively; almost completely
almost the same as; effectively
Examples
- For all practical purposes, the two phones are identical.
- Once the files are encrypted, they are for all practical purposes unreadable.
- The road is open, but for all practical purposes you can’t drive on it because of the flooding.
Learner examples
- For all practical purposes, the meeting is canceled.
- For all practical purposes, it’s finished.
in practical terms
1/ˈɪn pɹˈæktɪkəl tˈɚmz/
fixed phrase
considering real-life effects
in real life; in a way that is useful and clear
Examples
- In practical terms, this means you’ll need to submit the form by Friday.
- The change sounds small, but in practical terms it could save us hours each week.
- In practical terms, the new rule will make it harder to rent an apartment.
Learner examples
- In practical terms, I need more time.
- In practical terms, it costs too much.