English

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Etymology

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From practical +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈpɹæktɪk(ə)li/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: prac‧ti‧cal‧ly

Adverb

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practically (comparative more practically, superlative most practically)

  1. In practice; in effect or in actuality, though possibly not officially, technically, or legally.
    Synonyms: de facto, effectively
    Coordinate term: de jure
    Stalin was not technically or legally the head of state but was practically so.
    • 1893, C. E. Akers, “The Argentine Position”, in Argentine, Patagonian, and Chilian Sketches, with a Few Notes on Uruguay.[1], London: Harrison and Sons, page 12:
      It is true that the Articles of the [Argentine] Constitution promise fair conditions under which to live; but, unfortunately, the self-same Constitution, in the hands of unscrupulous administrators, becomes so elastic as to be practically a dead letter.
  2. Almost completely; almost entirely.
    Near-synonyms: effectively, nearly, virtually
    He was practically uneducated, barely able to read and write a simple sentence.
    • 1898, E[merson] Hough, “The Round-Up”, in The Story of the Cowboy[2], New York: D. Appleton and Company, page 153:
      If the ranchero had practically all the water near him, he had also practically all the cattle, []
    • 1969, Robert Farrar Capon, “Living Water”, in The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection:
      The turnip is one of the lordliest vegetables in the world; its broth is practically a soup in itself.
  3. With respect to practices or a practice.
    He wasn't very good with words or numbers; he was more of a practically minded person
    He was practically educated and lacked theoretical depth.
  4. In a way that is practical: feasibly; unchallengingly.
    Synonym: practicably
    Coordinate term: easily
    practically achievable

Usage notes

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  • Practical-minded is nearly four times as common as practically minded in books.

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Translations

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