Pragmatist

adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Advocating pragmatism.

    "Historians also suggest that Roosevelt was a pragmatist in foreign affairs, in that his policies were determined by practical consequences rather than by any philosophy."

Noun
  1. 1
    One who acts in a practical or straightforward manner; one who is pragmatic; one who values practicality or pragmatism.

    "A pragmatist would never plant such a messy tree, but I like its flowers."

  2. 2
    a person who takes a practical approach to problems and is concerned primarily with the success or failure of their actions wordnet
  3. 3
    One who acts in response to particular situations rather than upon abstract ideals; one who is willing to ignore their ideals to accomplish goals.

    "I'm not a thief, I am a pragmatist. I need this bread to feed my family."

  4. 4
    an adherent of philosophical pragmatism wordnet
  5. 5
    One who belongs to the philosophic school of pragmatism; one who holds that the meaning of beliefs is the actions they entail, and that the truth of those beliefs consists in the actions they entail, successfully leading a believer to their goals.

    "[S]ome pragmatists (such as William James) took a more pantheist or pandeist approach by rejecting views of God as separate from the world."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    An advocate of pragmatism.
  2. 7
    One who studies pragmatics. uncommon

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek πρᾶγμα (prâgma, “thing”).

Etymology 2

From Ancient Greek πρᾶγμα (prâgma, “thing”).

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