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
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.
For you, goods and services serve a utilitarian function.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026
I think that, for those of us who love free markets and love capitalism and understand the utilitarian good of capitalism but also the morality of capitalism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026
Gehry introduced clerestory windows, skylights, large exposed trusses, raw concrete floors and metal cladding, elevating the utilitarian spaces without erasing their industrial character.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025
Soon after, he started seeing his current partner Wang Chunxia, although Mr Junmin suggested to the paper the love was only "utilitarian" and that she hadn't "entered" his heart.
From BBC • Nov. 18, 2025
We need daylight and to that extent it is utilitarian, but moonlight we do not need.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
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.
