Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words
Definition of pragmatic - 3 dictionary results
Pragmatic at Amazon
Millions of titles, new & used. Qualified orders over $25 ship free
Amazon.com/books

prag⋅mat⋅ic

  [prag-mat-ik]
Use pragmatic in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations.
2. Philosophy. of or pertaining to pragmatism (def. 2).
3. of or pertaining to pragmatics (defs. 1, 2).
4. treating historical phenomena with special reference to their causes, antecedent conditions, and results.
5. of or pertaining to the affairs of state or community.
6. Archaic.
a. busy; active.
b. officious; meddlesome; interfering.
c. dogmatic; opinionated.
–noun
7. pragmatic sanction.
8. Archaic. an officious or meddlesome person.
Also, prag⋅mat⋅i⋅cal (for defs. 1, 2, 5).

Origin:
1580–90; < L prāgmaticus < Gk prāgmatikós practical, equiv. to prāgmat- (s. of prâgma) deed, state business (deriv. of prssein to do, fare; see practic ) + -ikos -ic

Related forms:
prag⋅mat⋅i⋅cal⋅i⋅ty, prag⋅mat⋅i⋅cal⋅ness, noun
prag⋅mat⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pragmatic
Pragmatic at Amazon
Millions of titles, new & used. Qualified orders over $25 ship free
Amazon.com/books
prag·mat·ic   (prāg-māt'ĭk)   
adj.  

  1. Dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical.

  2. Philosophy Of or relating to pragmatism.

  3. 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.

  4. Archaic

    1. Active; busy.

    2. Active in an officious or meddlesome way.

    3. Dogmatic; dictatorial.

n.  

  1. A pragmatic sanction.

  2. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

pragmatic 
1543 (implied in pragmatical), from M.Fr. pragmatique, from L. pragmaticus "skilled in business or law," from Gk. pragmatikos "versed in business," from pragma (gen. pragmatos) "civil business, deed, act," from prassein "to do, act, perform." Pragmatism in philosophy is attested from 1898, first in William James, probably from Ger. Pragmatismus.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see pragmatic on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way