adj

pragmatic

prag-MA-tihk

adj

Focused on practical results and workable solutions rather than theory or ideals.

"The manager took a pragmatic approach and just fixed the immediate problem."

"She's pragmatic about money and never overspends on luxuries."

How to Use Pragmatic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing sensible and practical, dealing with things as they really are instead of how you wish they were.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "dogmatic," which means the opposite — sticking rigidly to a belief regardless of practical outcome.

Easily confused with

dogmatic

Common pairings

a pragmatic approach pragmatic solution pragmatic decision

more pragmatic comparative, pragmatics plural, most pragmatic superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The manager took a _____ approach and just fixed the immediate problem.

From Greek "pragmatikos" ("skilled in business or affairs"), from "pragma" ("a deed" or "a thing done") — the same root as "practical."

idealistic

idealistic

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idealistic