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- Dictionaryu·til·i·tar·i·an/yo͞oˌtiləˈterēən/
adjective
- 1. designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive: "a utilitarian building"
- 2. relating to or adhering to the doctrine of utilitarianism: "a utilitarian theorist"
noun
- 1. an adherent of utilitarianism.
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The meaning of UTILITARIAN is an advocate or adherent of utilitarianism. How to use utilitarian in a sentence.
: a doctrine that the useful is the good and that the determining consideration of right conduct should be the usefulness of its consequences. specifically : a theory that the aim of action should be the largest possible balance of pleasure over pain or the greatest happiness of the greatest number. 2. : utilitarian character, spirit, or quality.
Utilitarianism, in normative ethics, a tradition stemming from the late 18th- and 19th-century English philosophers and economists Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill according to which an action is right if it tends to promote happiness and wrong if it tends to produce the reverse of happiness.
adjective. uk / ˌjuː.tɪ.lɪˈteə.ri.ən / us / juːˌtɪl.əˈter.i.ən / Add to word list. designed to be useful rather than decorative: Like many factories, it's a very ugly utilitarian building. Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples. useful These useful gadgets should find a home in every kitchen. helpful They gave us some really helpful advice.
Utilitarian means based on the idea that the morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people.
adjective. 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. an adherent of utilitarianism. utilitarian. / juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛərɪən / adjective.
v. t. e. In ethical philosophy, utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for the affected individuals. [1] [2] In other words, utilitarian ideas encourage actions that ensure the greatest good for the greatest number.
noun [ U ] politics, social science uk / ˌjuː.tɪ.lɪˈteə.ri.ə.nɪ.z ə m / us / juːˌtɪl.əˈter.i.ə.nɪ.z ə m / Add to word list. the system of thought that states that the best action or decision in a particular situation is the one that brings most advantages to the most people. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Philosophy. aesthete.
adjective. us / juːˌtɪl.əˈter.i.ən / uk / ˌjuː.tɪ.lɪˈteə.ri.ən / Add to word list. designed to be useful rather than decorative: Like many factories, it's a very ugly utilitarian building. Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples. useful These useful gadgets should find a home in every kitchen. helpful They gave us some really helpful advice.
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.
