pragmatic
- 1Practical in outlook, focused on decisions and actions that work in practice rather than only in theory.
Rather than wait for a perfect plan, the mayor took a pragmatic approach and fixed the worst roads first.
The couple made a pragmatic choice and bought a used minivan instead of the sports car.
UsageCommon with approach, solution and choice: a pragmatic approach to a problem. It usually praises.
Similarpractical, realistic, sensible, down-to-earth
Oppositeidealistic, impractical, unrealistic
- 2Inclined to interfere in other people's affairs, pressing unwanted attention or advice on them.
Note
Here the word carried blame rather than praise: the busy person who meddles in what is not their business. That use has dropped out of the language, and a pragmatic neighbor today would be heard as a sensible one.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Pragmatic historically had a disapproving sense meaning meddlesome or officious. en.wiktionary.org
- The meddlesome sense is obsolete. en.wiktionary.org
Less common meanings
- 3Of history or other writing: philosophical in approach, concerned with causes, reasons, and effects rather than with details and circumstances.
Polybius’s pragmatic history is simply the history of affairs, as distinguished from the descriptive and often poetical character which much history before his time had.
1854, J. G., “On the Dating of Ancient History” - 4An official order or decree made public by those in authority.
- 5A person who meddles or pries in other people's affairs.
- 6A man engaged in business or in handling practical affairs.
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Origin
From Middle French pragmatique, from Late Latin pragmaticus ("relating to civil affairs"; as a noun, a legal expert who supplied arguments to advocates), from Ancient Greek pragmatikós ("active, versed in affairs"). That comes from prâgma ("a thing done, a fact"; in the plural, "affairs, public business"), from prássō ("to do"), the source also of English practical.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 8 facts
- Pragmatic derives from Middle French pragmatique, from Late Latin pragmaticus. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin adjective meant relating to civil affairs. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin noun denoted a legal expert who furnished arguments to advocates. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin word derives from Ancient Greek pragmatikós, meaning active or versed in affairs. en.wiktionary.org
- Pragmatikós derives from prâgma, meaning a thing done or a fact. en.wiktionary.org
- The plural of prâgma could mean affairs or public business. en.wiktionary.org
- Prâgma derives from prássō, meaning to do. en.wiktionary.org
- English practical ultimately derives from the same Greek verb. en.wiktionary.org