Impractical
/ɪmˈpræktɪkəl/
Definitions
Not useful or effective in real situations; not sensible or realistic.
/ɪmˈpræktɪkəl/
Not sensible or realistic; not adapted for use or action.
The idea of living on Mars is currently impractical.
💡 Simply: Imagine you want to build a house out of marshmallows. Sounds fun, but it wouldn't last in the rain or wind! That's impractical—not a good idea in the real world.
👶 For kids: If something is impractical, it's not a good idea to do it. Like trying to swim in a bathtub!
More Examples
Her suggestions for the party were fun but impractical.
It's impractical to try to build a skyscraper without a strong foundation.
Buying a sports car when you have five kids is rather impractical.
How It's Used
"The plan was impractical due to the lack of resources."
"The design was deemed impractical for mass production."
From *im-* (not) + *practical*, from Middle English *practiken*, from Late Latin *practicus* ('practical'), from Greek *praktikos* ('concerned with action, active').
The word 'impractical' emerged in the 17th century, initially used to describe things that were not conducive to action or were not useful in practice.
Memory tip
Think of a car that runs on sunshine only. Sounds cool, but it's *impractical* because the weather isn't always sunny.