pragmatic

views updated May 17 2018

prag·mat·ic / pragˈmatik/ • adj. dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations: a pragmatic approach to politics. ∎  relating to philosophical or political pragmatism. ∎  Linguistics of or relating to pragmatics.DERIVATIVES: prag·mat·i·cal·ly / -ik(ə)lē/ adv.

pragmatic

views updated May 29 2018

pragmatic relating to affairs of a state, etc.; † busy, active, officious. XVII (sb. XVI). — late L. prāgmaticus — Gr. prāgmatikós, f. prâgma, prāgmat- act, deed, affair.
Also (earlier) pragmatical XVI. So pragmatism (philos.) XIX; hence pragmatist XX (earlier XVII in sense1 ‘pragmatical person’).