The term 'pragmatic sorts' can be defined as realists, which is an 8 letter word. Realists are people who take a practical approach to life and focus on facts and reality rather than abstract concepts or ideas. They tend to be logical and analytical in their thinking and prefer to make decisions based on what is most likely to work in the real world. Realists are often seen as being more level-headed and down-to-earth than other types of people.