Word: pragmatic (adjective)

Associations

"Pragmatic" means dealing with things in a practical, realistic way, focusing on what works best rather than on theories or ideas. It is often used to describe people, decisions, or approaches that are sensible and effective.

• Example 1: A pragmatic person solves problems by finding simple and useful solutions. For example, "She took a pragmatic approach to fixing the broken machine."
• Example 2: In business, a pragmatic strategy focuses on what will actually increase sales, not just on ideal plans. For example, "The company’s pragmatic marketing plan helped increase profits."
• Example 3: When making decisions, being pragmatic means considering real-world consequences. For example, "He was pragmatic about the risks and decided to invest carefully."

Synonym: practical

• Difference: "Pragmatic" often emphasizes being realistic and focused on results, while "practical" means useful or suitable for actual use. They are very close, but "pragmatic" sometimes implies a thoughtful, problem-solving attitude.

Substitution

You can replace "pragmatic" with:

• practical (focuses on usefulness)
• realistic (focuses on what is likely or possible)
• sensible (focuses on good judgment) Each word slightly changes the tone: "pragmatic" is more about problem-solving and results, "realistic" about expectations, and "sensible" about good choices.

Deconstruction

• Root: "pragma" comes from Greek "pragma," meaning "deed" or "thing done."
• Suffix: "-tic" turns it into an adjective meaning "related to" or "characterized by." So "pragmatic" literally means "related to action or practical matters."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where being pragmatic is better than being idealistic?
• How do you decide when to be pragmatic in your daily life?
• Have you ever made a pragmatic choice that helped solve a problem quickly? What was it?