1prac·ti·cal 
/ˈpræktɪkəl/ adjective
/ˈpræktɪkəl/ adjective [more practical; most practical] 1 : relating to what is real rather than to what is possible or imagined
▪ We can speculate about the future, but on a more practical level, we have to admit that we simply don't know what will happen. ▪ An engineer will address the design's practical problems. ▪ She has a lot of practical experience in dealing with these kinds of problems. ▪ The practical [=actual] effect of the change has been very slight. — opposite theoretical 2 a : likely to succeed and reasonable to do or use
▪ The books suggests some practical ways to save money. ▪ practical solutions to complicated problems ▪ He thinks wind can be a practical source of renewable energy.
b : appropriate or suited for actual use
▪ The machine is too big to be practical for most private homes. ▪ The shoes are nice, but they're not very practical.
c : relating to what can or should be done in an actual situation
▪ The book is a practical guide to car care. ▪ He gave me some practical advice/help on finding a job. ▪ One of the practical advantages of living in the city is that you have access to public transportation. ▪ I have enough practical knowledge of German to get by.
d : logical and reasonable in a particular situation
▪ We could try to continue, but it's more practical to start over. ▪ We left early for practical reasons—there's less traffic then and it's cooler. 3 of a person a : tending to make good decisions and to deal with daily life in a sensible way
▪ He is a very practical person with no interest in expensive cars or clothes. ▪ Try to be more practical about money.
b : good at making or repairing things
▪ My husband is not very practical around the house.
▪ We can speculate about the future, but on a more practical level, we have to admit that we simply don't know what will happen. ▪ An engineer will address the design's practical problems. ▪ She has a lot of practical experience in dealing with these kinds of problems. ▪ The practical [=actual] effect of the change has been very slight. — opposite theoretical
▪ The books suggests some practical ways to save money. ▪ practical solutions to complicated problems ▪ He thinks wind can be a practical source of renewable energy.
b : appropriate or suited for actual use
▪ The machine is too big to be practical for most private homes. ▪ The shoes are nice, but they're not very practical.
c : relating to what can or should be done in an actual situation
▪ The book is a practical guide to car care. ▪ He gave me some practical advice/help on finding a job. ▪ One of the practical advantages of living in the city is that you have access to public transportation. ▪ I have enough practical knowledge of German to get by.
d : logical and reasonable in a particular situation
▪ We could try to continue, but it's more practical to start over. ▪ We left early for practical reasons—there's less traffic then and it's cooler.
▪ He is a very practical person with no interest in expensive cars or clothes. ▪ Try to be more practical about money.
b : good at making or repairing things
▪ My husband is not very practical around the house.
for (all) practical purposes
— used to say that one thing has the same effect or result as something else ▪ His effort to hide the document was, for practical purposes [=in effect], an admission that he had made a mistake. ▪ During the blizzard, the town was, for all practical purposes [=virtually, practically], shut down.
