pragmatic

adjective

prag·​mat·​ic prag-ˈma-tik 

variants or less commonly pragmatical

prag-ˈma-ti-kəl 

1

: relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters : practical as opposed to idealistic

a pragmatic leader

a pragmatic [=practical] approach to health care

2

: relating to or being in accordance with philosophical pragmatism

3

archaic

a(1)

: busy

(2)

: officious

b

: opinionated

pragmatic noun

pragmatically

prag-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Are you pragmatic?

The word pragmatic has been busy over its more than four centuries of use. Its earliest meanings were "busy," "meddlesome," and "opinionated," but those are now considered archaic uses. The word continues, as it has since the late 19th century, to be used in reference to the philosophical movement of pragmatism (see sense 2). And, as Merriam-Webster Unabridged reports, it also continues to be used in the field of history to describe that which deals with historical events in a way that shows their interconnection. Most often, however, we encounter pragmatic when it is being used to describe people—sometimes ourselves.

So what does it mean for a person to be pragmatic? A person who is pragmatic is concerned more with matters of fact than with what could or should be. A pragmatic person's realm is results and consequences. If that's where your focus is, you may want to apply the word to yourself.

Synonyms

• down-to-earth
• earthy
• hardheaded
• matter-of-fact
• practical
• realistic

Examples of pragmatic in a Sentence

In their universe, romance is totally detached from pragmatic concerns and societal pressures … —Lev Grossman, Time, 24 Jan. 2005

… their pragmatic successors like Benjamin Franklin were concerned with lightning's … power but not its thrilling scenic value. —John Updike, New York Review of Books, 15 Aug. 2002

… pragmatic enough to have held on to their day jobs for years after they were putting out records. —Chris Mundy, Rolling Stone, 16 Sept. 1993

… and her mysticism never failed to exasperate her pragmatic, mountain-climbing daughter. —Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses, 1989

His pragmatic view of public education comes from years of working in city schools.

a pragmatic man, not given to grand, visionary schemes

Recent Examples on the Web

However, after the initial excitement fades, the pragmatic, boring gift gets the most use. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 19 Nov. 2024

Trump can help shape the direction of those institutions as a leading shareholder, for example, by building a relationship with Ajay Banga, the pragmatic businessman leading the World Bank. —Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024

This time, Cruz appealed to his party to take his race seriously and reshaped his image to Texas voters, presenting himself as a pragmatic legislator focused on getting things done—an effort to pivot from his past reputation as an uncompromising firebrand with aspirations beyond Texas. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024

Commercial aviation CVCs have a similar profile, with a higher emphasis on SAF, which reflects a pragmatic response to the pressure investors have put on airlines for sustainable flying. —Dean Donovan, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin pragmaticus skilled in law or business, from Greek pragmatikos, from pragmat-, pragma deed, from prassein to do — more at practical

First Known Use

circa 1612, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing pragmatic

• pragmatic sanction

Kids Definition

pragmatic

adjective

prag·​mat·​ic prag-ˈmat-ik 

variants also pragmatical

-i-kəl 

: concerned with practical rather than intellectual or artistic matters

pragmatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb