Word of the day · 20 August 2026
pragmatic
/præɡˈmætɪk/
adjective
Dealing with things sensibly and in a practical way; focused on results.
In a sentence
- A pragmatic budget cut travel and kept the staff.
- She took a pragmatic view: ship the fix, polish later.
- Pragmatic parents pack snacks before they pack idealism.
In an image
Origin
From Greek pragmatikos (relating to fact or deed), from pragma (deed, affair).
History
Legal and philosophical Latin carried pragmatic into European languages for matters of practice. English speakers later used it for people who prefer workable solutions over pure theory. American pragmatism in philosophy gave the word extra weight in the late 1800s. In daily talk it still marks realism about constraints.
Nearby words
practical · realistic · utilitarian
What works now, not what sounds perfect on paper.