impracticality
/ɪmˌpræktɪˈkæləti/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˌpræktɪˈkæləti/ (ame, ipa)
impracticality — noun
1. the quality of a plan, idea, or suggestion being unrealistic or unlikely to work
the quality of a plan, idea, or suggestion being unrealistic or unlikely to work in real life; a specific feature that makes such a plan hard to carry out
Owen pointed out the impracticality of building a school without nearby roads.
pattern: the impracticality of + gerund
Isabela rejected the proposal because of its sheer impracticality and high cost.
collocation: sheer impracticality
The committee listed several impracticalities in the plan for a floating airport.
Despite the design's beauty, its impracticality made the architect drop the rooftop pool.
Charlotte argued that the impracticality of daily home visits would exhaust the small team.
- unfeasibility
stresses that the plan literally cannot be carried out, often for technical reasons
- unworkability
closer to everyday speech; emphasises that the plan will fail in practice
- practicality
the quality of being sensible and likely to work in real life
- feasibility
the quality of being possible to carry out, used in planning and engineering
文法句型
the impracticality of [doing something]
impracticalities of [plan/idea]
用法筆記
Often used to formally criticise a plan or proposal in writing — meetings, reports, news. The countable plural impracticalities lists the specific things that make a plan hard to follow.
常見錯誤
2. the quality of a person who is poor at handling everyday tasks like money, sched
the quality of a person who is poor at handling everyday tasks like money, schedules, or repairs, often because they prefer abstract or creative thinking
Salma loved her brother dearly but joked about his impracticality with money.
pattern: a person's impracticality with + topic
The professor's impracticality became clear when he could not work the coffee machine.
Gabriel admitted his impracticality and asked Daichi to manage the household bills.
Élise mocked her own impracticality after locking the keys inside the parked car.
Aarav's grandfather warned that intelligence without patience can turn into impracticality.
- absent-mindedness
narrower; stresses forgetting small things rather than poor practical judgement overall
- naivety
stresses inexperience with how the real world works, often softer in tone
- common sense
everyday word for the practical judgement that someone with impracticality lacks
- resourcefulness
stresses the ability to solve everyday problems with whatever is available
文法句型
[person]'s impracticality
the impracticality of [a person]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 — sense 2 describes a person's character, not a plan. Often softened with humour, especially when said about oneself or a close family member.