If you describe an object, idea, or course of action as impractical, you mean that it is not sensible or realistic, and does not work well in practice.
When stalking subjects, a tripod is impractical.
It became impractical to make a business trip by ocean liner.
2. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you describe someone as impractical, you mean that they do not have the abilities or skills to do practical work such as making, repairing, or organizing things.
Geniuses are supposed to be eccentric and hopelessly impractical.
More Synonyms of impractical
impractical in British English
(ɪmˈpræktɪkəl)
adjective
1.
not practical or workable
an impractical solution
2.
not given to practical matters or gifted with practical skills
he is intelligent but too impractical for commercial work
Derived forms
impracticality (imˌpractiˈcality) or impracticalness (imˈpracticalness)
noun
impractically (imˈpractically)
adverb
impractical in American English
(ɪmˈpræktɪkəl)
adjective
not practical
; specif.,
a.
not workable or useful; impracticable
b.
not handling practical matters well
c.
given to theorizing; idealistic
Derived forms
impracticality (imˌpractiˈcality)
noun or imˈpracticalness
impractically (imˈpractically)
adverb
Examples of 'impractical' in a sentence
impractical
It had cream leather seats and proved totally impractical.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Hence it is impractical for businesses to begin widespread testing.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
His designs may prove impractical for some farmers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This makes such systems impractical for most small businesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Doctors suggested the idea was probably impractical.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Access to justice for many will become impractical.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The idea of taking a day off seemed impractical at the time.
Christianity Today (2000)
That makes them impractical as well as ugly.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But competition does not work like that and the sheer number of creditors often makes such deals impractical.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They think the towering shoes she was tottering around in look like golf clubs and would be totally impractical.
The Sun (2009)
They are full of impractical ideas.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In any case, the idea is as impractical as it is offensive.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And the manager's white shirt and tie is totally impractical working around food.
The Sun (2008)
And he used to make totally impractical suggestions, not least for the menu.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
While you recognise the good intentions behind these, nobody seems to understand how impractical their ideas are.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
A great idea but very impractical.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
During that period many new ideas have been dreamed up that were tested, tried and quickly discarded as they proved to be impractical.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's often difficult, expensive and impractical to go green in the office.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
True, they're intriguing but seem impractical.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In fact, some could seem impractical, if not a nuisance.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Continue to explore your options, including those that seem impractical or far-fetched.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The nature and tempo of military exercises, far less operations and warfare, make this entirely impractical.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It also noted that most legal internships are in London, which can seem impractical and too expensive to some students.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Conservation officers get the beasts to trample shacks on protected forest land in the Assam region, where hilly terrain makes bulldozers impractical.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
impractical
British English: impractical /ɪmˈpræktɪkl/ ADJECTIVE
If an idea or course of action is impractical, it is not sensible or practical.
This small car would be totally impractical for my lifestyle: I've got four kids.
American English: impractical
Arabic: غَيْرُ عَمَلِيٌّ
Brazilian Portuguese: impraticável
Chinese: 不切实际的
Croatian: nepraktičan
Czech: nepraktický
Danish: upraktisk
Dutch: onpraktisch
European Spanish: poco práctico
Finnish: epäkäytännöllinen
French: pas pratique
German: unpraktisch
Greek: ανεφάρμοστος
Italian: irrealizzabile
Japanese: 実際的でない
Korean: 비실용적인
Norwegian: upraktisk
Polish: niepraktyczny
European Portuguese: impraticável
Romanian: nepotrivit
Russian: непрактичный
Latin American Spanish: poco práctico
Swedish: opraktisk
Thai: ที่ปฏิบัติไม่ได้
Turkish: pratik olmayan
Ukrainian: непрактичний
Vietnamese: không thực tế
Chinese translation of 'impractical'
impractical
(ɪmˈpræktɪkl)
adj
[idea, plan]不切实(實)际(際)的 (bù qiè shíjì de)
[person]实(實)践(踐)能力差的 (shíjiàn nénglì chà de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
not sensible or workable
With regularly scheduled airlines, sea travel became impractical.
Synonyms
unworkable
Washington is unhappy with the peace plan, which it views as unworkable.
impracticable
unrealistic
inoperable
impossible
You shouldn't promise what's impossible.
unserviceable
nonviable
Opposites
possible
,
practical
,
viable
,
workable
,
serviceable
2 (adjective)
He was difficult, eccentric and hopelessly impractical.
Synonyms
unrealistic
romantic
He has a romantic view of rural society.
idealistic
optimistic
Michael was in a jovial and optimistic mood.
visionary
His ideas were dismissed as mere visionary speculation.
dreamy
full of dreamy ideals
Utopian
quixotic
She had a quixotic attitude towards life.
impracticable
starry-eyed
3 (adjective)
He's full of wacky, weird and impractical ideas.
Synonyms
idealistic
She was somewhat idealistic about the pleasures of motherhood.
wild
I was just a kid and full of wild ideas.
out there (slang)
romantic
Both figures have become the stuff of romantic legends.