WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2015
prac•ti•cal•i•ty /ˌpræktɪˈkælɪti/USA pronunciationn. WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2015
the part of something that deals with or concerns practical events as opposed to theory: [uncountable]a sense of practicality in dealing with problems.[countable]You can't ignore the practicalities.
prac•ti•cal /ˈpræktɪkəl/USA pronunciation
- of or relating to practice or action:practical, not theoretical, mathematics.
- made or suited for use; useful:A station wagon is a practical car for a family.
- (of a person) thinking of the results, usefulness, etc., of some action or procedure;
sensible:She's much too practical to marry someone who has no future.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
practical /ˈpræktɪkəl/ adj
- of, involving, or concerned with experience or actual use; not theoretical
- of or concerned with ordinary affairs, work, etc
- adapted or adaptable for use
- of, involving, or trained by practice
- being such for all useful or general purposes; virtual
Etymology: 17th Century: from earlier practic, from French pratique, via Late Latin from Greek praktikos, from prassein to experience, negotiate, performˌpractiˈcality, ˈpracticalness n USAGE
- an examination in the practical skills of a subject: a science practical
A distinction is usually made between practical and practicable. Practical refers to a person, idea, project, etc, as being more concerned with or relevant to practice than theory: he is a very practical person; the idea had no practical application. Practicable refers to a project or idea as being capable of being done or put into effect: the plan was expensive, yet practicable
'practicality' also found in these entries: