utilitarian
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or consisting in utility.
-
having regard to utility or usefulness rather than beauty, ornamentation, etc.
- Synonyms:
- sensible, functional, useful, practical
-
of, relating to, or adhering to the doctrine of utilitarianism.
noun
adjective
-
of or relating to utilitarianism
-
designed for use rather than beauty
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of utilitarian
Explanation
The adjective utilitarian describes something that is useful or functional. If you are attracted to a car for its storage space and gas mileage — as opposed to its sparkly tire rims — then chances are you value a car's utilitarian features. The word utilitarian was coined by the philosopher and judge Jeremy Bentham, who argued that his principle of utility would create the "greatest happiness for the greatest number of people." The noun form of utilitarian refers to a person who adheres to this philosophy of usefulness. "They couldn't agree on the decor for their living room. She wanted whimsy — delicate tables, fragile statues of fairies and unicorns, and cushions on the floor to sit on. He wanted something more utilitarian and useful — comfortable chairs, a giant TV, and sturdy tables to put your feet on."
Vocabulary lists containing utilitarian
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Power Suffix: -arian
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The Importance of Being Earnest
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Metal, leather and rhinestones adorn Aslan World’s first showroom in the Arts District, reflecting the brand’s slogan: Utilitarian maximalism designed for a new world.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2025
Utilitarian thinking has led individuals to perform acts of breathtaking virtue, but putting this ethical framework in the hands of an industrialist presents certain dangers.
From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2023
Utilitarian philosophers generally advocate seeking the greatest happiness for the largest number of people.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
Utilitarian toggles and straps flap about on oversize looks.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 20, 2022
He was an intimate friend of Bentham the Utilitarian, of Priestley the Unitarian, of Price the Dissenting parson-economist, and of Horne Tooke the Radical.
From A Short History of English Liberalism by Blease, Walter Lyon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
