Dictionary

practicable en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɹæktɪkəbəl/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin prācticābilis, partly modelled on Middle French praticable. By surface analysis, practice (verb) + -able.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Capable of being accomplished; feasible.
   • “The player should usually be able to play more quickly than that and is encouraged to do so,” the guidelines state, with golfers that exceed 40 seconds – AKA “bad time” – “informed as soon as practicable” by a tournament official. 2023 May 4, Jack Bantock, “Tee-k Tock: The ‘appalling’ slow play controversy riling golf’s biggest stars”, in CNN:
   • Those who have concerned themselves exclusively with what seemed practicable in the existing state of opinion have constantly found that even this has rapidly become politically impossible as the result of changes in a public opinion which they have done nothing to guide. 1949, F. A. Hayek, “The Intellectuals and Socialism”, in University of Chicago Law Review, volume 16, number 3, Chicago: University of Chicago, →DOI, page 433:
   • Monday’s executive order called on the secretary of state and director of the Office of Management and Budget to pause funding “with all practicable speed.” 2025 January 21, Christian Edwards, “What is the World Health Organization and why does Trump want to leave it?”, in CNN:
   • The law in most states says that cyclists must ride as far to the right as is practicable. 1986, Fred Matheny, Solo Cycling: How to Train and Race Bicycle Time Trials, page 136:
   • This sober and unflinching analysis should be read and reckoned with by anyone concerned with practicable change in the long-suffering region. 2010 September 13, Publishers Weekly, Gaza in Crisis: Reflections on Israel's War Against the Palestinians:
2. (not-comparable) Serving a useful function; useful, functional or handy.
3. (not-comparable) Available for use; accessible or employable.
   • I glanced up, — there was no trap door which led to the roof. No practicable nook or cranny, in which a living being could lie concealed, was anywhere at hand. 1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:

Forms

Antonyms

impracticable

Deriveds

practicably · practicability · practicableness · unpracticable

Relateds

practical

Synonyms

workable (capable of being accomplished) · usable · feasible (capable of being accomplished)

Translations (30)

es practicable (capable of being accomplished) · nl werkbaar (capable of being accomplished) · ro practicabil (available for use; accessible or employable) · bg изпълним (capable of being accomplished) · nl hanteerbaar (serving a useful function; functional or handy) · bg използваем (available for use; accessible or employable) · ro folosibil (serving a useful function; functional or handy) · ga sodhéanta (capable of being accomplished) · es asequible (capable of being accomplished) · nl hanteerbaar (available for use; accessible or employable) · ro funcționabil (available for use; accessible or employable) · ca funcional (serving a useful function; functional or handy) · nl bruikbaar (serving a useful function; functional or handy) · nl doenbaar (capable of being accomplished) · es factible (capable of being accomplished) · ro practicabil (capable of being accomplished) · nl handig (serving a useful function; functional or handy) · ro funcțional (serving a useful function; functional or handy) · nl nuttig (serving a useful function; functional or handy) · bg приложим (serving a useful function; functional or handy) · nl uitvoerbaar (capable of being accomplished) · nl functioneel (serving a useful function; functional or handy) · bg осъществим (capable of being accomplished) · gv so-yannoo (capable of being accomplished) · es realizable (capable of being accomplished) · nl bruikbaar (available for use; accessible or employable) · ca practicable (capable of being accomplished) · es alcanzable (capable of being accomplished) · nl toegankelijk (available for use; accessible or employable) · nl werkbaar (available for use; accessible or employable)