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.
Despite the large venue and packed-in audience, Sykes created an intimate club vibe, walking onstage in a utilitarian jumpsuit and instantly bonding with the audience over just how weird things have become in present-day America.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
Since the 2000s the city's planners have been preoccupied with building more utilitarian infrastructure, with new sea bridges and coastal roads, radically transforming how the city looks today.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 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
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
We shared the joy of being in this room, in the home of an artist, a person whose life was gracious and carefree, whose furnishings and decorations were as impractical as ours were utilitarian.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
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.
