functionalism

American  

[fuhngk-shuh-nl-iz-uhm] / ˈfʌŋk ʃə nlˌɪz əm /

noun

1. (usually initial capital letter)

   1. a design movement evolved from several previous movements or schools in Europe in the early 20th century, advocating the design of buildings, furnishings, etc., as direct fulfillments of material requirements, as for shelter, repose, or the serving of food, with the construction, materials, and purpose clearly expressed or at least not denied, and with aesthetic effect derived chiefly from proportions and finish, purely decorative effects being excluded or greatly subordinated.

   2. the doctrines and practices associated with this movement.

2. Psychology. the doctrine that emphasizes the adaptiveness of the mental or behavioral processes.

3. Also called structural functionalism.  Sociology. a theoretical orientation that views society as a system of interdependent parts whose functions contribute to the stability and survival of the system.

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functionalism British  

/ ˈfʌŋkʃənəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the theory of design that the form of a thing should be determined by its use

2. any doctrine that stresses utility or purpose

3. psychol a system of thought based on the premise that all mental processes derive from their usefulness to the organism in adapting to the environment

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functionalism Cultural  

1. An approach to architecture that adapts the design of a building or other structure to its future use. Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe were notable advocates of functionalism in the twentieth century.

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Other Word Forms

• functionalist noun
• semifunctionalism noun

Etymology

Origin of functionalism

First recorded in 1910–15; functional + -ism

Example Sentences

One is computational functionalism, which says thinking can be fully described as abstract information processing.

From Science Daily • Dec. 24, 2025

“One very common theory amongst philosophers and neuroscientists is functionalism, the idea that all that really matters is the function, not whether something is made of biology or silicon or anything else,” Zeleznikow-Johnston said.

From Salon • Dec. 16, 2024

Naumann recalls the arrival of these wacky postmodern designs in Zwickau as a stark departure from the post-Bauhaus functionalism then prevalent in the former Communist bloc.

From New York Times • Feb. 13, 2023

“It’s pure functionalism matched with incredible warmth and the ability to find a gesture that is fluid and soft in the middle of a hard thing,” says Hammer Director Ann Philbin.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2022

It is apparent, therefore, that Dewey's later functionalism resulted from the natural growth and development of the psychological standpoint which he adopted at the beginning of his philosophical career.

From John Dewey's logical theory by Howard, Delton Thomas