Plastic article is practical (9)
I believe the answer is:
realistic
'practical' is the definition.
('realistic' is associated in meaning with 'practical')
'plastic article is' is the wordplay.
'plastic' indicates anagramming the letters (plastic can mean easily moulded).
'article'+'is'='articleis'
'articleis' is an anagram of 'REALISTIC'.
(Other definitions for realistic that I've seen before include "Practicable" , "Down-to-earth" , "Without illusions, dealing in facts" , "It is clear, being practical and sensible" , "Level-headed" .)