practically

English

Etymology

practical +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈpɹæktɪk(ə)li/
Audio (US) (file)
Hyphenation: prac‧ti‧cal‧ly

Adverb

practically (comparative more practically, superlative most practically)

In practice; in effect or in actuality, though possibly not officially, technically, or legally.
Synonyms: de facto, effectively

Coordinate term: de jure

Stalin was not technically or legally the head of state but was practically so.
- 1893, C. E. Akers, “The Argentine Position”, in Argentine, Patagonian, and Chilian Sketches, with a Few Notes on Uruguay.‎, London: Harrison and Sons, page 12:
  It is true that the Articles of the [Argentine] Constitution promise fair conditions under which to live; but, unfortunately, the self-same Constitution, in the hands of unscrupulous administrators, becomes so elastic as to be practically a dead letter.
Almost completely; almost entirely.
Near-synonyms: effectively, nearly, virtually

He was practically uneducated, barely able to read and write a simple sentence.
- 1898, E[merson] Hough, “The Round-Up”, in The Story of the Cowboy‎, New York: D. Appleton and Company, page 153:
  If the ranchero had practically all the water near him, he had also practically all the cattle, […]
- 1969, Robert Farrar Capon, “Living Water”, in The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection:
  The turnip is one of the lordliest vegetables in the world; its broth is practically a soup in itself.
With respect to practices or a practice.
He wasn't very good with words or numbers; he was more of a practically minded person

He was practically educated and lacked theoretical depth.
In a way that is practical: feasibly; unchallengingly.
Synonym: practicably

Coordinate term: easily

practically achievable