utilitarian

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

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

/ juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛərɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to utilitarianism
2. designed for use rather than beauty

noun

1. a person who believes in utilitarianism

Other Words From

• anti·u·tili·tari·an adjective noun
• nonu·tili·tari·an adjective noun
• unu·tili·tari·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of utilitarian¹

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

Example Sentences

Whether you want a classic design, a utilitarian look, or something resembling a page from an interior design magazine, we found some options that can improve your laundry area aesthetics.

From Popular-Science

Most successful e-commerce marketplaces are extremely utilitarian.

From Digiday

Sometimes, the most charming — or utilitarian — aspects of these books aren’t even the recipes.

From Eater

Note the power source—a noisy combustion engine—and utilitarian design.

From Singularity Hub 

But, according to the utilitarian, you’ve still got to deal with another issue.

From No Straight News

Is that a utilitarian approach—that you need to understand how institutions have changed to understand the way they are?

From The Daily Beast

He even dresses Foster like one of his male heroes—her tank top utilitarian, without gender.

From The Daily Beast

Everything is meant to be utilitarian and efficient, at the expense of relaxation or comfort.

From The Daily Beast

The problem is that professional intelligence is mechanical and functional – utilitarian.

From The Daily Beast

The available options were utilitarian and only came in a few colors.

From The Daily Beast

He finished his strictly utilitarian household labor and went off up the flat to the sluice boxes.

From Project Gutenberg

His old enemy, the utilitarian theory, had taken subtle root in his affections.

From Project Gutenberg

It was impossible, he thought, on utilitarian principles to make men work for the happiness of the many.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the intense appreciation of this truth that gives the Mosaic institutions so practical and utilitarian a character.

From Project Gutenberg

Helen thought his utilitarian dislike of idleness was open to this objection, but it was not the time to urge Bob's cause.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• functional
• sensible