utilitarian
pronunciation
How to pronounce utilitarian in British English:
UK [ˌjuːtɪlɪˈteəriən]
How to pronounce utilitarian in American English:
US [ˌjuːtɪlɪˈteriən]
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- Noun:
- someone who believes that the value of a thing depends on its utility
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- Adjective:
- having a useful function
- having utility often to the exclusion of values
Word Origin
- utilitarian (n.)
- 1781, coined by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) from utility + -arian on the model of + unitarian, etc. One guided by the doctrine of the greatest happiness for the greatest number. From 1802 as an adjective; in the general sense "having regard to utility rather than beauty," from 1847.
Example
- 1. Kinsella points out that this utilitarian argument falls flat .
- 2. Jeremy bentham and his utilitarian followers identified it with pleasure and subjective satisfaction .
- 3. The internet is delivering more and more useful , utilitarian options .
- 4. Sandel introduces the principles of utilitarian philosopher , jeremy bentham , with a famous 19th century law case involving a shipwrecked crew of four .
- 5. A utilitarian , for example , might approve of the occasional torture of suspected terrorists-for the greater happiness of everyone else , you understand .