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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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.
Critics, meanwhile, argue his advice was narrowly utilitarian and ultimately unhelpful to society.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
Jones said he and his colleagues gave it a utilitarian design because they wanted consumers to regard it as a tool, not a toy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 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
That’s all in the name of bringing a little humor to what would otherwise feel like a very utilitarian part of his daily routine.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025
Once the armor is on, I strap on my weaponry: scims and daggers of Serric steel, razor-sharp and graceful, especially compared to the dull, utilitarian weapons we've used until now.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
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.
