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 Word Forms

• antiutilitarian adjective
• nonutilitarian adjective
• unutilitarian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of utilitarian¹

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

Example Sentences

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.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.

Read more on MarketWatch

Today, Mumbai is yet again a city in rapid flux - its building code governed by real estate moguls trying to maximise the floor space index, giving way to utilitarian rather than stylistic considerations.

Read more on BBC

But oatmeal, of all things, feels like a balm for that guilt: a utilitarian canvas worthy of a little luxury.

Read more on Salon

"The modernism that was around before the 1980s was very grey, restrictive, utilitarian and quite doctrinaire really," Farrell said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• functional 
• sensible