English Reference
adjective

logical

adj.
US /ˈɫɑdʒɪkəɫ/ UK /lˈɒdʒɪkəl/ log·i·cal

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    making sense because it is based on facts and clear thinking.

    characterised by sound reasoning; sensible and based on facts rather than emotion.

    Simple

    It was a logical decision to save money before buying a new car.

    In context

    Given the current market volatility, the board's decision to delay the expansion was seen as a logical and prudent move.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    following a strict set of rules where one idea leads naturally to the next.

    pertaining to or in accordance with the formal principles of logic and deductive reasoning.

    Simple

    The scientist presented a logical argument that proved her theory was correct.

    In context

    The philosopher's argument was perfectly logical, yet many critics found his initial premises to be fundamentally flawed.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    describing how a system is organized in your mind or on paper, rather than the physical parts.

    relating to the conceptual or virtual structure of a system rather than its physical hardware or implementation.

    Simple

    The logical structure of the database is different from how the data is stored on the disk.

    In context

    While the physical server is located in the basement, the logical network spans three different continents through cloud integration.

    Usage

    Often used to contrast 'logical' with 'physical' in technical documentation.

Usage logical consistency · logical order · logical sequence


From logic + -al.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated