Definition
A pragmatic person asks 'what will actually work?' rather than 'what fits my theory?'. Pragmatism is the habit of judging plans by their practical results — accepting an imperfect compromise that functions over a beautiful principle that doesn't. The word usually praises level-headedness, though it can hint at a lack of idealism: a pragmatic politician gets things done, but may bend principles to do so.
Examples
- We need a pragmatic approach to reducing traffic, not another grand vision that never gets built.
- She is pragmatic about her chances of going professional and is finishing her degree as a backup.
- The two parties reached a pragmatic compromise that gave each side part of what it wanted.
Synonyms
practical · realistic · sensible · down-to-earth · businesslike
In TOEFL & IELTS
A favorite in IELTS Writing Task 2 conclusions: 'the most pragmatic solution would be…' signals balanced judgment to the examiner. TOEFL passages contrast pragmatic and idealistic approaches in history and politics. Learn the noun 'pragmatism' and the fixed phrase 'a pragmatic approach', and keep it distinct from 'practical' — pragmatic describes mindsets and policies, not tools.