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logical

adj.
US //ˈɫɑdʒɪkəɫ// UK //lˈɒdʒɪkəl// log·i·cal
  1. 1 reasonable and sensible (adj.)
    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.

    Example

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

    Example

    Given the current market volatility, the board's decision to delay the expansion was seen as a logical and prudent move.
  2. 2 following rules of logic (adj.)
    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.

    Example

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

    Example

    The philosopher's argument was perfectly logical, yet many critics found his initial premises to be fundamentally flawed.
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  1. 3 conceptual rather than physical (adj.)
    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.

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
Origin

From logic + -al.

Word family

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