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Webster 1913 Edition


Utilitarian

U-tilˊi-ta′ri-an

,
Adj.
[See
Utility
.]
1.
Of or pertaining to utility; consisting in utility; [GREEK]iming at utility as distinguished from beauty, ornament, etc.; sometimes, reproachfully, evincing, or characterized by, a regard for utility of a lower kind, or marked by a sordid spirit;
as,
utilitarian
narrowness; a
utilitarian
indifference to art
.
2.
Of or pertaining to utilitarianism; supporting utilitarianism;
as, the
utilitarian
view of morality; the
Utilitarian
Society
.
J. S. Mill.

U-tilˊi-ta′ri-an

,
Noun.
One who holds the doctrine of utilitarianism.
The
utilitarians
are for merging all the particular virtues into one, and would substitute in their place the greatest usefulness, as the alone principle to which every question respecting the morality of actions should be referred.
Chalmers.
But what is a
utilitarian
? Simply one who prefers the useful to the useless; and who does not?
Sir W. Hamilton.

Definition 2024


utilitarian

utilitarian

English

Adjective

utilitarian (comparative more utilitarian, superlative most utilitarian)

  1. of or relating to utility
  2. practical and functional, not just for show.

Translations

Noun

utilitarian (plural utilitarians)

  1. Someone who practices or advocates utilitarianism.

Translations

Derived terms