Well-read · Philosophy & belief
Utilitarian: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Utilitarian adjective. Judging actions by their results, aiming for the greatest happiness of the greatest number; also plain and practical.
How to say it
yoo-til-ih-TAIR-ee-un/ˌjuːtɪlɪˈtɛːrɪən/
6 syllables, stressed on the fourth (TAIR). Forms: utilitarianism.
Utilitarian in a sentence
A utilitarian would ask which choice saves the most lives, however uncomfortable it feels.
The office was strictly utilitarian: grey desks, strip lights and a wobbly fan.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- practical
- functional
- consequentialist
- pragmatic
Opposite:
- decorative
- ornamental
Where utilitarian comes from
From utility; Jeremy Bentham made the word and John Stuart Mill spread it.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The office was strictly _____: grey desks, strip lights and a wobbly fan.
- utilitarian
- antinomian
- transcendent
Show the answer
utilitarian: The office was strictly utilitarian: grey desks, strip lights and a wobbly fan.