WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
prag•mat•ic /prægˈmætɪk/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- concerned with practical considerations of one's actions, and less concerned with principles;
having a practical point of view:made a purely pragmatic decision to go along with the boss.
prag•mat•ic
(prag mat′ik),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
prag•mat′i•cal′i•ty, prag•mat′i•cal•ness, n.
prag•mat′i•cal•ly, adv.
- of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations.
- Philosophyof or pertaining to pragmatism (def. 2).
- Linguisticsof or pertaining to pragmatics (defs. 1, 2).
- treating historical phenomena with special reference to their causes, antecedent conditions, and results.
- of or pertaining to the affairs of state or community.
- [Archaic.]
- busy;
active. - officious;
meddlesome;
interfering. - dogmatic;
opinionated.
- busy;
n.
- See pragmatic sanction.
- [Archaic.]an officious or meddlesome person.
- Greek prāgmatikós practical, equivalent. to prāgmat- (stem of prâgma) deed, state business (derivative of prá̄ssein to do, fare; see practic) + -ikos -ic
- Latin prāgmaticus
- 1580–90
prag•mat′i•cal•ly, adv.
'pragmatically' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):