utilitarian

American  

[yoo-til-i-tair-ee-uhn] / yuˌtɪl ɪˈtɛər i ən /

adjective

1. pertaining to or consisting in utility.

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

   Synonyms:

   sensible, functional, useful, practical

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

---

noun

1. an adherent of utilitarianism.

utilitarian British  

/ juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛərɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to utilitarianism

2. designed for use rather than beauty

---

noun

1. a person who believes in utilitarianism

Other Word Forms

• antiutilitarian adjective
• nonutilitarian adjective
• unutilitarian adjective

Etymology

Origin of utilitarian

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

Example Sentences

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

Completed in 1984, the hangar-like space blended industrial materials — metal cladding, stucco, exposed structure and utilitarian forms — with folded, sculptural masses and cheeky artistic moments.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

But as prediction markets become more popular, the companies running them are leaning into something that many observers say looks less utilitarian and more like straight-up gambling.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 24, 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

In one upper pocket of his jacket was arrayed a variety of pens and pencils; in the other nestled a lily-white handkerchief whose presence was more decorative than utilitarian.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

• functional
• sensible