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

But after it became clear the stadium needed a refresh in the 1970s, new owner George Steinbrenner delivered a characteristically heavy-handed renovation, bringing the park up to modern standards but replacing some of its classic design elements, such as the stately entrance and crowning frieze, with awkward, utilitarian elements like a spiral entry ramp and a smaller, clunkier frieze in the outfield.

From Los Angeles Times

And this is the problem that we promote this utilitarian “me first” sort of attitude on the left, and we've just been colonized by the right wing ways of thinking.

From Salon

When Whole Foods opened in 1980, it merged the utilitarian supermarket experience with a hippie-minded desire to nourish oneself from the land.

From Los Angeles Times

"So it’s almost paradoxical that these are utilitarian goods," Josh Clarkson, a professor of marketing at the University of Cincinnati, told The Washington Post.

From Salon

Other household products have similarly transcended their utilitarian roles to become pop culture icons.

From Salon

Related Words

• functional
• sensible