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pragmatic

præɡˈmætɪkadjective

What does pragmatic mean?

Dealing with things in a practical way, based on what works.

Pragmatic, six ways

PlainDealing with things in a practical way, based on what works.
ADHDWhat works. Not what’s ideal. Practical.
Gen ZPractical over perfect. Ships the thing.
MetaphorA cook who uses the pan she has, not the one in the book.
FormalDealing with things sensibly and realistically, based on practical considerations rather than theory.
Like I’m 5Doing what works instead of what is perfect. That’s pragmatic.

How to pronounce pragmatic

prag-MAT-ik/præɡˈmætɪk/

Pragmatic in a sentence

She took a pragmatic view of the budget.
Let’s be pragmatic and fix what we can this week.
A pragmatic approach favors results over ideology.

Synonyms for pragmatic

practicalPlainer.
realisticFacing facts.
sensibleShowing good judgment.

Where pragmatic comes from

Greek. Pragma, a deed, a thing done, from prassein, to do.

Good to know

Pragmatic is focused on what works. It can sound cold when principle seems to be at stake.

Pragmatic meaning, on a Gloss card: Dealing with things in a practical way, based on what works.

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