# logical

/ˈɫɑdʒɪkəɫ/ (US) · /lˈɒdʒɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/logical
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. reasonable and sensible

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- It was a logical decision to save money before buying a new car.
- Given the current market volatility, the board's decision to delay the expansion was seen as a logical and prudent move.

### 2. following rules of logic

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

- The scientist presented a logical argument that proved her theory was correct.
- The philosopher's argument was perfectly logical, yet many critics found his initial premises to be fundamentally flawed.

### 3. conceptual rather than physical

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- It is the logical choice for our team.
- The detective followed a logical process to identify the suspect based on the evidence found at the scene.
- While the proposal seemed radical at first, its logical consistency with the company's long-term fiscal goals eventually won over the board of directors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
