# pragmatic

Pronunciation: say "prag-MAT-ik" /pɹæɡˈmætɪk/

## Adjective

1. Practical in outlook, focused on decisions and actions that work in practice rather than only in theory.
   - Simple: Thinking about what will really work, not just about ideas.
   - _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._

## Adjective

2. Inclined to interfere in other people's affairs, pressing unwanted attention or advice on them. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Getting into other people's business when no one asked you to.

## Other meanings

- (adjective) Of history or other writing: philosophical in approach, concerned with causes, reasons, and effects rather than with details and circumstances.
- (noun) An official order or decree made public by those in authority.
- (noun) A person who meddles or pries in other people's affairs.
- (noun) A man engaged in business or in handling practical affairs.

## 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.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/pragmatic (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).