impractical

adjective

im·​prac·​ti·​cal (ˌ)im-ˈprak-ti-kəl How to pronounce impractical (audio)
: not practical: such as
a
: not wise to put into or keep in practice or effect
b
: incapable of dealing sensibly or prudently with practical matters
impracticality noun
impractically adverb

Examples of impractical in a Sentence

Little sports cars are impractical for large families. He was a dreamy and impractical young man.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The company continues to evaluate avenues for mitigating internal control weaknesses but has deemed complete mitigation impractical due to its limited staff size. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024 The standoff between Blanche’s impractical aestheticism and Stanley’s ruthless pragmatism is the heart of this quintessentially American drama. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 This can limit an EV’s ability to serve all vehicle roles within a household and make long-distance travel away from major interstates impractical. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 24 Oct. 2024 Outsourcing vendor management may also be impractical, as most services are designed and priced for large enterprises. Paul Blough, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for impractical 

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impractical was in 1865

Dictionary Entries Near impractical

Cite this Entry

“Impractical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impractical. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

impractical

adjective
im·​prac·​ti·​cal (ˈ)im-ˈprak-ti-kəl How to pronounce impractical (audio)
: not practical: as
a
: not wise to put into or keep in practice or effect
an impractical rule disliked by many
b
: incapable of dealing sensibly with practical matters
c
: impracticable
the new gadgets were complicated and impractical
impracticality noun
impractically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on impractical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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