Meaning & use
impractical
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not sensible or useful in real conditions, even if it sounds fine as an idea.
Grammar: Can come before a noun or after a verb: an impractical plan, the plan is impractical.
Patterns
- impractical for something
- impractical to do something
Wearing high heels on a hiking trail is impractical.
It would be impractical to drive downtown during the festival.
The architect's design was beautiful but impractical for a small family.
adjectivecomparable
Describing a person who is not good at everyday, hands-on tasks or is unrealistic in their plans.
Grammar: Used about people: he is dreamy and impractical.
Patterns
- be impractical about something
My uncle is brilliant but hopelessly impractical about money.
She felt impractical because she couldn't fix a dripping tap.
Idealistic and impractical, he spent his savings on a dream.
Word forms
| comparative | more impractical |
|---|---|
| superlative | most impractical |
Common combinations
- totally impractical
- A glass coffee table is totally impractical with a toddler.
- highly impractical
- Carrying that much cash is highly impractical.
- impractical for
- This white carpet is impractical for a house with dogs.
- seem impractical
- The scheme may seem impractical at first glance.
- impractical to
- It is impractical to print every document.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unworkable
- Unworkable means a plan simply cannot work, which is stronger than impractical, where it might work but is awkward or inconvenient.
- unrealistic
- Unrealistic focuses on expectations that are unlikely to be met, rather than how usable something is day to day.
- inconvenient
- Inconvenient is milder and only means it causes trouble, while impractical suggests it is not sensible to use at all.
- unfeasible
- Unfeasible is more formal and suggests it cannot be done with the available means.
Opposites
Word family
- practical adjective
- useful and sensible in real life
- impracticality noun
- the quality of being unrealistic or not useful
- impractically adverb
- in a way that is not sensible
- practicality noun
- the quality of being useful
Commonly confused: impractical or impracticable? impractical or unpractical?
impractical vs impracticable
Impracticable means impossible to carry out, and is stronger than impractical, which means not sensible or not suited.
impractical vs unpractical
Unpractical is a rare variant; impractical is the standard form.
Practice
A designer's chair that looks stunning but is painful to sit on for long can best be called ___.
Choose one answer.
Impractical means not sensible for real use, which fits a chair that looks good but is uncomfortable. Impossible would claim it cannot exist, and impressive only praises its look.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “impractical”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.