What does "utilitarian" mean?
Someone who practices or advocates utilitarianism.
Utilitarian
/juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛəɹi.ən/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone who practices or advocates utilitarianism.
- Grammar: utilitarian is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: adherent, advantageous, advocate of utilitarianism, animist.
- Useful contrasts: academic exercise, aesthetic concept, aesthetic feature.
- Usage evidence: The study of history offers to individuals major utilitarian learning outcomes.
How to use "utilitarian"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "utilitarian" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "utilitarian" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "utilitarian" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "utilitarian" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "utilitarian" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adherent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "utilitarian", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Someone who practices or advocates utilitarianism.
"Before his companies collapsed, Mr. Bankman-Fried often described himself as a utilitarian — meaning that he made decisions designed to advance the greater good."
- 2 someone who believes that the value of a thing depends on its utility wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to utility.
- 2 Pertaining to utilitarianism.
- 3 Practical and functional, present for use, not just for show.
"The semi-streamlined contour of the earlier G.W.R. railcars has been given up in favour of a more utilitarian blunt-nose end, and effective floor space gained thereby."
Adjective
- 1 having a useful function wordnet
- 2 having utility often to the exclusion of values wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
academic exerciseaesthetic conceptaesthetic featureaesthetic method
Example
"The study of history offers to individuals major utilitarian learning outcomes."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "utilitarian"?
Common synonyms include: adherent, advantageous, advocate of utilitarianism, animist, animistic, applied activity.
How do you use "utilitarian" in a sentence?
The study of history offers to individuals major utilitarian learning outcomes.
How do you pronounce "utilitarian"?
Pronounced /juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛəɹi.ən/.
Etymology
From utility + -arian. Coined by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham as early as 1781, and popularized by his student John Stuart Mill, who mistakenly attributed the term to John Galt.