- Today's Word
Felicitous
fuh-LISS-ih-tus
Definition
(adjective) Well-suited or appropriate for the occasion; pleasing in manner or style.
Example
Her speech was filled with felicitous phrases that brought laughter and applause.
Fun Fact
“Felicitous” shares a root with “felicity,” meaning happiness or bliss. It’s often used in writing and speeches to praise word choices that are especially fitting or graceful—perfectly timed compliments, witty turns of phrase, or the right joke at the right time.
(adjective) focused on practical results and real-world consequences rather than ideals, theories, or abstract principles.
Instead of arguing over perfect solutions, she took a pragmatic approach and fixed what could be done immediately.
Pragmatic traces back to the Greek word pragmatikos, meaning “relating to deeds or actions,” from pragma (“thing done” or “action”). It entered English in the late 16th century, originally referring to people skilled in managing practical affairs, before evolving into its modern meaning of valuing usefulness and outcomes over theory.