pragmatic
prag-MAT-ik
/præɡˈmæt.ɪk/
Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical considerations rather than theory.
Emphasizes finding working solutions in the real world rather than stubbornly sticking to abstract rules or ideologies.
The story behind the word. From Greek 'pragmatikos' (relating to fact or action), from 'pragma' (deed, matter), which derives from 'prassein' (to do). It gave name to American Pragmatism—the philosophical movement of William James and Charles Sanders Peirce.
Word relationships
- practical: Practical refers to hands-on skills or usability; pragmatic stresses a mindset that prioritizes real-world results over dogma.
- dogmatic: Inflexibly clinging to rules or doctrine regardless of context or outcomes.
- idealistic: Guided by high abstract ideals rather than realistic possibilities.
Commonly confused with
- dogmatic: Dogmatic thinkers follow strict doctrine regardless of outcome; pragmatic thinkers adapt their methods to secure actual results.
Word family
- pragmatism (noun): An approach that evaluates theories or beliefs solely by their practical success
- pragmatist (noun): A person driven by practical considerations
Collocations
- pragmatic approach
- pragmatic solution
- pragmatic compromise
- pragmatic decision
Example sentences
- "The mayor took a pragmatic approach to the infrastructure crisis, funding immediate repairs rather than waiting for ideal legislation." Public Policy
Memory hook
PRAGmatic = focused on PRACtical action (Pragma = deed/act). Results over doctrine.
When not to use
Do not use to mean 'pessimistic' or 'cynical'; a pragmatic decision maker is constructive and outcome-focused.
Fun facts
- In linguistics, 'pragmatics' is the study of how context alters meaning in real-world usage—focusing on practical spoken language rather than abstract grammar rules.
Related words
Explore more words
pragmatism, practical, realpolitik, functional, empirical, instrumentalism
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