utilitarian

[ yoo-til-i-tair-ee-uhn ]

/ yuˌtɪl ɪˈtɛər i ən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR utilitarian ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to or consisting in utility.

having regard to utility or usefulness rather than beauty, ornamentation, etc.

of, relating to, or adhering to the doctrine of utilitarianism.

noun

an adherent of utilitarianism.

Nearby words

Origin of utilitarian

First recorded in 1775–85; utilit(y) + -arian

SYNONYMS FOR utilitarian

2. practical, useful, functional, sensible.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR utilitarian ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsan·ti·u·til·i·tar·i·an, adjective, nounnon·u·til·i·tar·i·an, adjective, nounun·u·til·i·tar·i·an, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for utilitarian

Is that a utilitarian approach—that you need to understand how institutions have changed to understand the way they are?
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Everything is meant to be utilitarian and efficient, at the expense of relaxation or comfort.
Why Smart People Are Dumb Patients|Jean Kim|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The problem is that professional intelligence is mechanical and functional – utilitarian.
Richard Hofstadter and America’s New Wave of Anti-Intellectualism|David Masciotra|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The available options were utilitarian and only came in a few colors.
Concealed Carry Handbags: An Evening Bag for Your Gun?|Erin Cunningham|October 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST

With "Jim and the Indians," as the above scenario is known, the utilitarian calculus is clear: save 19 lives.
A Sophistic Moral Case For War|Ali Gharib|October 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The man who says present is all does so because he is an utilitarian.
Evening Round Up|William Crosbie Hunter
In some such peace the Fading Flower commonly finds her rest—a peace unromantic, utilitarian, and yet not perhaps unbeautiful.
Modern Women and What is Said of Them|Anonymous
It has a utilitarian side of vast extent, as broad as our boundless fields and our orchards' sweep.
Bird Day; How to prepare for it|Charles Almanzo Babcock
The Smaphore is an ugly but utilitarian thing, and the wireless telegraph has not as yet supplanted its functions in France.
Rambles on the Riviera|Francis Miltoun
Utilitarian conduct, therefore, is not a "political duty," because it is not fully enforced by definite punishment.
On the Ethics of Naturalism|William Ritchie Sorley

British Dictionary definitions for utilitarian

utilitarian

/ (juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛərɪən) /

adjective

of or relating to utilitarianism

designed for use rather than beauty

noun

a person who believes in utilitarianism

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for utilitarian