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practical

adjective/ˈpræktɪkəl/

definition

concerned with actual use or practice rather than theory

example

The course provides practical skills that students can apply directly in their future careers.

synonyms
functionalusefulreal-world
word origin — from Middle English 'practical', from Latin 'practica', from Greek 'praktikē (technē)', meaning 'the art of doing'

practical, justifiable, radical, ambitious, precautionary: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from IELTS Vocabulary set 153. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. practical · adjective/ˈpræktɪkəl/

    concerned with actual use or practice rather than theory

    The course provides practical skills that students can apply directly in their future careers.

    Synonyms: functional, useful, real-world

    Origin: from Middle English 'practical', from Latin 'practica', from Greek 'praktikē (technē)', meaning 'the art of doing'

  2. justifiable · adjective/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪəbl/

    able to be shown to be right or reasonable

    Her concerns about the project’s potential risks are justifiable given the evidence presented in the report.

    Synonyms: defensible, rational, valid

    Origin: from Latin 'justificabilis', from 'justus' meaning 'just' + 'facere' meaning 'to make'

  3. radical · adjective/ˈræd.ɪ.kəl/

    relating to the fundamental nature of something or extreme in form or effect

    The scientist proposed a radical change in how we approach climate policy, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address the crisis.

    Synonyms: fundamental, extreme, drastic

    Origin: from Latin 'radicalis', from 'radix' meaning 'root'

  4. ambitious · adjective/æmˈbɪʃ.əs/

    having a strong desire for success or achievement

    Her ambitious nature drove her to pursue a career in medicine, aiming to become a leading surgeon.

    Synonyms: aspiring, determined, driven

    Origin: from Latin 'ambitiosus', from 'ambitio', meaning ' ambition'

  5. precautionary · adjective/prɪˈkɔːʃəˌnɛri/

    taken in advance to prevent harm or to ensure a positive outcome

    The company issued a precautionary warning to its customers about the potential risks of using the defective product.

    Synonyms: preventive, protective, precaution

    Origin: From the Latin 'praecautio', meaning 'forewarning, foresight, caution'; derived from 'praecautus', the past participle of 'praecavere', meaning 'to guard against'.