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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

prag·mat·ic       (prāg-māt'ĭk)  Pronunciation Key  adj.   Dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical. Philosophy Of or relating to pragmatism. Relating to or being the study of cause and effect in historical or political events with emphasis on the practical lessons to be learned from them. Archaic Active; busy. Active in an officious or meddlesome way. Dogmatic; dictatorial. n.   A pragmatic sanction. Archaic A meddler; a busybody. [Latin prāgmaticus, skilled in business, from Greek prāgmatikos, from prāgma, prāgmat-, deed, from prāssein, prāg-, to do.] prag·mat'i·cal adj., prag·mat'i·cal·ly adv.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
pragmatic 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

pragmatic
adjective
1.	concerned with practical matters; "a matter-of-fact (or pragmatic) approach to the problem"; "a matter-of-fact account of the trip" [syn: matter-of-fact]
2.	of or concerning the theory of pragmatism
3.	guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory; "a hardheaded appraisal of our position"; "a hard-nosed labor leader"; "completely practical in his approach to business"; "not ideology but pragmatic politics" [syn: hardheaded]
noun
1.	an imperial decree that becomes part of the fundamental law of the land [syn: pragmatic sanction]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pragmatic

Prac"ti*cal\, a. [L. practicus active, Gr. ? fit for doing or performing, practical, active, fr. ? to do, work, effect: cf. F. pratique, formerly also practique. Cf. Pragmatic, Practice.]

1. Of or pertaining to practice or action.

2. Capable of being turned to use or account; useful, in distinction from ideal or theoretical; as, practical chemistry. "Man's practical understanding." --South. "For all practical purposes." --Macaulay.

3. Evincing practice or skill; capable of applying knowledge to some useful end; as, a practical man; a practical mind.

4. Derived from practice; as, practical skill.

Practical joke, a joke put in practice; a joke the fun of which consists in something done, in distinction from something said; esp., a trick played upon a person.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pragmatic

Prag*mat"ic\, Pragmatical \Prag*mat"ic*al\, a. [L. pragmaticus busy, active, skilled in business, especially in law and state affairs, systematic, Gr. ?, fr. ? a thing done, business, fr. ? to do: cf. F. pragmatique. See Practical.]

1. Of or pertaining to business or to affairs; of the nature of business; practical; material; businesslike in habit or manner.

The next day . . . I began to be very pragmatical. --Evelyn.

We can not always be contemplative, diligent, or pragmatical, abroad; but have need of some delightful intermissions. --Milton.

Low, pragmatical, earthly views of the gospel. --Hare.

2. Busy; specifically, busy in an objectionable way; officious; fussy and positive; meddlesome. "Pragmatical officers of justice." --Sir W. Scott.

The fellow grew so pragmatical that he took upon him the government of my whole family. --Arbuthnot.

3. Philosophical; dealing with causes, reasons, and effects, rather than with details and circumstances; -- said of literature. "Pragmatic history." --Sir W. Hamilton. "Pragmatic poetry." --M. Arnold.

Pragmatic sanction, a solemn ordinance or decree issued by the head or legislature of a state upon weighty matters; -- a term derived from the Byzantine empire. In European history, two decrees under this name are particularly celebrated. One of these, issued by Charles VII. of France, A. D. 1438, was the foundation of the liberties of the Gallican church; the other, issued by Charles VI. of Germany, A. D. 1724, settled his hereditary dominions on his eldest daughter, the Archduchess Maria Theresa.