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Impractical: meaning, definitions and examples

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impractical

 

[ ɪmˈpræktɪkəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

not sensible

Not sensible or realistic; incapable of being carried out effectively.

Synonyms

impracticable, unrealistic, unworkable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
impractical

Used when describing something that is not convenient or practical to use or implement in real life. Often refers to ideas, methods, or designs that are difficult to put into practice due to lack of feasibility or practicality.

  • His plan to travel to work by helicopter was considered impractical.
  • The impractical shoes were beautiful but not suitable for hiking.
unrealistic

Used to describe something that is not sensible or reasonable; it may refer to plans, expectations, or dreams that are unlikely to happen in reality. Often has a negative connotation.

  • Setting such high sales targets is unrealistic for a small business.
  • Expecting everyone to agree unanimously was an unrealistic hope.
impracticable

Used when referring to something that cannot be done or achieved, typically due to physical or logistical obstacles. It emphasizes the impossibility of implementation.

  • Building a bridge across the canyon was impracticable due to the harsh terrain.
  • The proposed method was rendered impracticable by the lack of necessary equipment.
unworkable

Used when something cannot function properly or be executed effectively. This word often refers to plans, strategies, or systems that break down under practical conditions.

  • The new scheduling system was found to be unworkable and had to be abandoned.
  • Her plan to handle four projects simultaneously proved unworkable.

Examples of usage

  • It's impractical to expect everyone to work late every day.
  • Buying a yacht is impractical for most people.
  • She had many impractical ideas that were not feasible.
Context #2 | Adjective

not functional

Not capable of being used for a particular purpose; not functional.

Synonyms

ineffective, nonfunctional, useless.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
impractical

Used when something is not sensible or realistic in practical situations.

  • Building a house on a mountain peak is impractical
  • It's impractical to carry an umbrella when it's windy
nonfunctional

Used when something is not working or operating as it should.

  • The coffee machine in the office is nonfunctional
  • The car's air conditioner became nonfunctional after the accident
useless

Used when something has no use or value, often carries a negative connotation.

  • This broken pen is useless
  • Trying to fix that old computer is useless; it's beyond repair
ineffective

Used when something does not produce the desired effect or outcome.

  • The new marketing strategy was ineffective
  • This medicine is ineffective against the new strain of the virus

Examples of usage

  • The design was beautiful but ultimately impractical.
  • Her choice of shoes was stylish but impractical for hiking.

Translations

Translations of the word "impractical" in other languages:

🇵🇹 impraticável

🇮🇳 अव्यावहारिक

🇩🇪 unpraktisch

🇮🇩 tidak praktis

🇺🇦 непрактичний

🇵🇱 niepraktyczny

🇯🇵 非現実的 (ひげんじつてき)

🇫🇷 impraticable

🇪🇸 impracticable

🇹🇷 pratik olmayan

🇰🇷 비실용적인

🇸🇦 غير عملي

🇨🇿 nepraktický

🇸🇰 nepraktický

🇨🇳 不切实际 (bù qiè shí jì)

🇸🇮 nepraktičen

🇮🇸 ópraktískur

🇰🇿 практикалық емес

🇬🇪 არაპრაქტიკული

🇦🇿 praktik deyil

🇲🇽 impracticable

Etymology

The word 'impractical' originated from the combination of the prefix 'im-' meaning 'not' or 'opposite of' and the word 'practical' meaning 'sensible' or 'workable'. It first appeared in the early 19th century in English literature to describe things that were not sensible or feasible. Over time, 'impractical' has become a common adjective used to convey the idea of something that is not realistic or functional.

See also: impractically, practicality.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,184, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.