impractical
gb/ɪmpɹˈæktɪkəl/ us/ɪmpɹˈæktɪkəl/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
not workable in real life
Not possible or not a good idea in real life.
Usage pattern:
impractical (to do) [something] | impractical for [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse impractical (not workable) with impossible (cannot be done at all).
Synonyms
unworkable (Emphasizes that it will not function or succeed.)
|
unrealistic (Emphasizes that it does not match real conditions.)
|
not feasible (More formal; focuses on practical possibility.)
Antonyms
practical (Suitable and sensible in real conditions.)
|
feasible (Possible to do successfully with available resources.)
Collocations
an impractical idea
|an impractical plan
|an impractical solution
|an impractical proposal
|an impractical suggestion
|an impractical approach
|an impractical schedule
|financially impractical
|logistically impractical
|impractical to implement
Themes
daily_life
|planning
|problem_solving
Examples
- It’s impractical to hold the meeting at 6 a.m. when half the team commutes.
- The idea sounds nice, but it’s impractical for a small business with a limited budget.
- A full system redesign this month is impractical given the deadline.
Learner examples
- This plan is impractical.
- It is impractical to walk there in the rain.
adjective
B2
property
2
inconvenient for everyday use
Not useful or convenient for daily life.
Usage pattern:
impractical for [everyday use/a purpose] | impractical in [a place/situation]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse impractical when they only mean uncomfortable; impractical focuses on usefulness, not just comfort.
Synonyms
inconvenient (Broader; can describe situations as well as objects.)
|
unwieldy (Emphasizes being big, heavy, or hard to handle.)
Antonyms
convenient (Easy to use and helpful in daily life.)
|
functional (Designed to work well for its purpose.)
Collocations
impractical shoes
|impractical clothing
|an impractical outfit
|an impractical design
|an impractical layout
|impractical packaging
|impractical for everyday use
|impractical to carry
|impractical in the rain
|impractical in small spaces
Themes
daily_life
|design
|clothing
Examples
- The dress is beautiful, but it’s impractical for traveling.
- Open shelves look stylish, but they can be impractical in a dusty apartment.
- That tiny handbag is impractical if you need to carry a laptop.
Learner examples
- These shoes are impractical for walking.
- The kitchen design is impractical.
adjective
C1
property
3
not good at practical matters
Not good at organizing or doing practical things.
Usage pattern:
an impractical [person/thinker] | [someone] is impractical
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse impractical (not practical) with impolite (not polite).
Synonyms
unpractical (Less common; similar meaning, especially about people.)
|
idealistic (Not the same, but often overlaps when someone ignores practical limits.)
Antonyms
practical (Good at dealing with real-world tasks and details.)
|
hands-on (Directly involved and skilled at doing things.)
Collocations
an impractical person
|an impractical dreamer
|hopelessly impractical
|financially impractical (person)
|impractical about money
|impractical in the kitchen
|impractical with tools
Themes
people
|personality
|work
Examples
- She’s creative but impractical, so she needs someone else to handle the details.
- He’s an impractical manager who makes promises his team can’t deliver.
- I’m too impractical to fix it myself, so I called a repair service.
Learner examples
- My brother is impractical.
- I am impractical with money.
Grammar
Dictionary form
impractical
IPA
GB/ɪmpɹˈæktɪkəl/
US/ɪmpɹˈæktɪkəl/
Syllables & stress
im - prac - tic - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (prac)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: impractical
Word family
Related words
Advanced or less common
practicable
adjective C1
impracticable
adjective C1
Expressions
impractical joker
1/ɪmpɹˈæktɪkəl d͡ʒˈoʊkɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
person who plays practical jokes
A person who plays tricks on people (said as a joke).
Examples
- Don’t invite him if you don’t like surprises—he’s an impractical joker.
- They called her an “impractical joker” after she hid everyone’s keys as a prank.