praktikon

Praktikon is a term of Greek origin, derived from the adjective praktikos (πρακτικός), meaning practical or pertaining to action. In transliteration, the neuter noun πρακτικόν may be rendered as praktikon, praktikon, or praktikón. The word functions as a descriptor for things that are intended for use in practice, rather than for theory or speculation.

Historically, πρακτικόν has been used to label manuals, handbooks, or collections of practical rules and instructions. In Byzantine and later Greek contexts, the term appears in various catalogues and titles to indicate works that deal with procedural or applied material—such as administrative forms, legal procedures, or ritual practices—rather than abstract exposition. Because praktikón was a generic designation rather than the name of a single canonical text, the contents and scope of works labeled as such varied across time and place.

In modern usage, praktikon often functions as a descriptive element in scholarly or bibliographic references. It may occur in the titles of studies on practical philosophy, law, administration, or liturgy, where the emphasis is on applied knowledge or procedures. The term is also encountered in discussions of medieval and Byzantine manuscript traditions as a generic label for practical handbooks rather than as a specific work.

See also: Praxis, Pragmatic, Praktikos.