practice

English

Etymology

The noun is from Middle English practice, practique, practyse, from the verb; also compare Medieval Latin prāctica.[1]

The verb is from Middle English practice, practise, practize, practyse, from Middle French pratiser, practiser, alteration of practiquer, from Medieval Latin prācticāre, from Late Latin prācticus, from Ancient Greek πρακτικός (praktikós).[2][3]

The spelling practice is attested once in Middle English for both the noun and the verb.[1][4] The noun began to be assimilated in spelling to nouns in -ice;[5] practise (noun) is now obsolete.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈpɹæktɪs/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -æktɪs

Noun

practice (usually uncountable, plural practices)

  1. Repetition of an activity to improve a skill.
    Synonyms: rehearsal, drill, dry run, exercise, training, trial, workout
    He will need lots of practice with the lines before he performs them.
  2. An organized event for the purpose of performing such repetition.
    Being on a team is hard: you're always having to go to practice while everyone else is taking it easy.
    I have choir practice every Sunday after church.
  3. (uncountable, especially medicine, art) The ongoing pursuit of a craft or profession, particularly in medicine or the fine arts.
    • 2016, Raphael Vella, Artist-Teachers in Context: International Dialogues, Springer, →ISBN, page 53:
      Which is the most demanding? I think that my practice as an artist is 'stronger' because it is the practice that best fuels and balances myself and that generates new knowledge for my other work as both arts educator and creative arts therapist.
  4. (countable) A place where a professional service is provided, such as a general practice.
    Synonym: general practice
    She ran a thriving medical practice.
  5. The observance of religious duties that a church requires of its members.
  6. A customary action, habit, or behaviour; a manner or routine.
    Synonyms: custom, habit, pattern, routine, wont, wone
    It is the usual practice of employees there to wear neckties only when meeting with customers.
    It is good practice to check each door and window before leaving.
  7. Actual operation or experiment, in contrast to theory.
    Antonym: theory
    That may work in theory, but will it work in practice?
  8. (law) The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts.
    This firm of solicitors is involved in family law practice.
  9. Skilful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; stratagem; artifice.
  10. (mathematics) An easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.

Usage notes
  • British, Australian, and New Zealand English spelling distinguishes between practice (noun) and practise (verb), analogously with advice/advise. In American English, the spelling practice is commonly used for both noun and verb. Both practices are found equally in Canadian English.

Alternative forms

Derived terms

Collocations
adjectives often used with "practice"

best, clinical, common, current, general, good, medical, private, professional, religious, social, universal, widespread

nouns often used with "practice"

business, classroom, employment, family, group, labor, law, management, nursing, work

Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb

practice (third-person singular simple present practices, present participle practicing, simple past and past participle practiced)

  1. (now US) Alternative spelling of practise

Derived terms

References
  1. “practī̆se, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. “practice”, in Collins English Dictionary.
  3. Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “practice (v.)”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  4. “practī̆sen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  5. Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “practice (n.)”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Further reading

Latin

Pronunciation

Adjective

practice (i.e., prāctice)

  1. vocative masculine singular of prācticus
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