What does pragmatic mean?

Definitions for pragmatic
prag·mat·ic

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word pragmatic.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. pragmatic sanction, pragmaticadjective

    an imperial decree that becomes part of the fundamental law of the land

  2. matter-of-fact, pragmatic, pragmaticaladjective

    concerned with practical matters

    "a matter-of-fact (or pragmatic) approach to the problem"; "a matter-of-fact account of the trip"

  3. pragmatic, pragmaticaladjective

    of or concerning the theory of pragmatism

  4. hardheaded, hard-nosed, practical, pragmaticadjective

    guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory

    "a hardheaded appraisal of our position"; "a hard-nosed labor leader"; "completely practical in his approach to business"; "not ideology but pragmatic politics"

Wiktionary

  1. pragmaticadjective

    Practical, concerned with making decisions and actions that are useful in practice, not just theory

    The sturdy furniture in the student lounge was pragmatic, but unattractive.

  2. Etymology: From pragmatique, from pragmaticus, from πραγματικός, from πρᾶγμα, in plural πράγματα, from πράσσειν (whence English practical).

Wikipedia

  1. pragmatic

    Pragmatism is a philosophical movement.

ChatGPT

  1. pragmatic

    Pragmatic refers to dealing with things realistically or practically, based on practical considerations rather than theoretical or abstract principles. It can also refer to the philosophical approach of pragmatism, which assesses truth of theories or beliefs in terms of their successful practical application.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pragmaticadjective

    alt. of Pragmatical

  2. Pragmaticnoun

    one skilled in affairs

  3. Pragmaticnoun

    a solemn public ordinance or decree

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Pragmatic

    -al, prag-mat′ik, -al, adj. of or pertaining to public business: skilled in affairs: active: practical: interfering with the affairs of others: officious: meddlesome: self-important.—n. Pragmat′ic, a man of business, a busybody: a public decree.—adv. Pragmat′ically.—ns. Pragmat′icalness, Prag&priprime;matism, activity: earnestness: meddlesomeness; Prag′matist.—Pragmatic method, a method of treating events with reference to their causes, conditions, and results—also called Prag′matism; Pragmatic sanction, a special decree issued by a sovereign, such as that passed by the Emperor Charles VI. of Germany, securing the crown to Maria Theresa, and which led to the war so called in 1741. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. pragmatikospragmapragmatos, deed—prassein, to do.]

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of pragmatic in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of pragmatic in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of pragmatic in a Sentence

  1. Chris Beyrer:

    The predominant concept [to date] has been a drug-free world, rather than a pragmatic acceptance that substance use is common.

  2. Photographer Danila Tkachenko:

    School, work, family -- once in this cycle, you are a prisoner of your own position and have to do what you're supposed to, you should be pragmatic and strong, or become an outcast or a lunatic. How (do you) remain yourself in the midst of this?

  3. Theodore Johnson:

    Older black voters tend to be more pragmatic, wanting to protect gains that have been realized to date, younger voters tend to be more ideological and open to disruption and are less risk-averse.

  4. Lisa Murkowski:

    It is important for us around here to make sure that we don't distract from those pragmatic, practical solutions. That we don't amp the rhetoric up so high that we can't get ourselves to a place where we can work cooperatively, collaboratively, to get to these solutions.

  5. Steve Tsang:

    The pandemic had resulted in him being allowed to play more of the well-established role of the premier in running the economy, something from which he was side-tracked most of the time in the Xi era, he saw how the economic impact of Covid-19 would require a pragmatic and a more emphatic approach, hence allowing, even encouraging, street vending for those laid off as a result of the pandemic.

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Translations for pragmatic

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"pragmatic." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 9 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/pragmatic>.

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