adj
impractical
ihm-PRAK-tih-kuhl
adj
1
Not sensible or realistic to do; unworkable in practice.
"Building a swimming pool in the tiny back garden was completely impractical."
"His plan sounded clever but was impractical once you looked at the budget."
How to Use Impractical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that sounds fine in theory but wouldn't actually work well in real life.
Common mistake
Impractical means "not sensible or convenient"; impracticable means "impossible to carry out at all." Most everyday uses call for impractical.
Easily confused with
impracticable
Word Forms
more impractical comparative, most impractical superlative
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Building a swimming pool in the tiny back garden was completely _____.
Etymology
From im- ("not") + practical.