utilitarian

American  

[yoo-til-i-tair-ee-uhn] / yuˌtɪl ɪˈtɛər i ən /

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 British  

/ 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

Etymology

Origin of utilitarian

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

Example Sentences

Critics, meanwhile, argue his advice was narrowly utilitarian and ultimately unhelpful to society.

From BBC

They said the design went "beyond a utilitarian warehousing development" and approved the plan.

From BBC

The Metro report cautioned the concepts “are in the early planning stage,” so L.A. might get an extravagant walking path, a utilitarian one, or none at all.

From Los Angeles Times

I think that, for those of us who love free markets and love capitalism and understand the utilitarian good of capitalism but also the morality of capitalism.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Related Words

• functional
• sensible