Utilitarian: meaning, definitions and examples

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utilitarian

 

[ juːˌtɪl.ɪˈteə.ri.ən ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

ethical theory

relating to or adhering to the ethical theory that the value of a thing or an action is determined by its utility

Synonyms

effective, functional, practical

Examples of usage

  • Utilitarian ethics focus on maximizing overall happiness.
  • The utilitarian approach to decision-making considers the consequences for the greatest number of people.
Context #2 | Noun

philosophy

a person who believes in or practices utilitarianism

Synonyms

pragmatist, rationalist, realist

Examples of usage

  • The utilitarian argued that the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome.
  • Utilitarians prioritize the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Translations

Translations of the word "utilitarian" in other languages:

🇵🇹 utilitário

🇮🇳 उपयोगितावादी

🇩🇪 utilitaristisch

🇮🇩 utilitarian

🇺🇦 утилітарний

🇵🇱 utylitarny

🇯🇵 功利主義的 (こうりしゅぎてき)

🇫🇷 utilitariste

🇪🇸 utilitarista

🇹🇷 faydacı

🇰🇷 공리주의의

🇸🇦 نَفْعِيّ

🇨🇿 utilitární

🇸🇰 utilitárny

🇨🇳 功利主义的 (gōng lì zhǔ yì de)

🇸🇮 utilitaren

🇮🇸 nytjahyggjumaður

🇰🇿 утилитарлық

🇬🇪 უტილიტარისტული

🇦🇿 utilitarist

🇲🇽 utilitarista

Word origin

The term 'utilitarian' originated in the late 18th century, deriving from the word 'utility' which refers to the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial. Utilitarianism as a philosophical concept was developed by Jeremy Bentham and later expanded upon by John Stuart Mill. It emphasizes the importance of maximizing overall happiness or utility in decision-making, focusing on the consequences of actions rather than abstract principles.

See also: reutilization, reutilize, underutilization, underutilize, unutilized, utilization, utilized, utilizer, utilizing.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #12,979, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.