Utilitarian
adjective
Made or done for practical purposes or benefits, not for beauty or art.
My furniture is more utilitarian than fancy, but it is very functional.
Often appears as...
- utilitarian design
- utilitarian purpose
noun
A person who supports utilitarianism, the idea that actions should be based on their usefulness and the benefit they provide to the majority.
John Stuart Mill was a famous utilitarian who believed in the principle of 'the greatest good for the greatest number'.
Often appears as...
- famous utilitarian
- utilitarian philosophy
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Made or done for practical purposes or benefits, not for beauty or art.
My furniture is more utilitarian than fancy, but it is very functional.
Often appears as...
- utilitarian design
- utilitarian purpose
noun
A person who supports utilitarianism, the idea that actions should be based on their usefulness and the benefit they provide to the majority.
John Stuart Mill was a famous utilitarian who believed in the principle of 'the greatest good for the greatest number'.
Often appears as...
- famous utilitarian
- utilitarian philosophy
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Practical Over Pretty
Emphasizes function and usefulness over appearance. Good for objects and design.
Alice chose a utilitarian backpack for hiking, valuing its many compartments over style.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Decorative
Indicates something is built for use, not to decorate or look attractive.
The architect’s utilitarian approach resulted in a building focused solely on space efficiency.
Pro Tip 3/3Function First
Describes an item designed to fulfill a specific need, often sacrificing aesthetics.
He prefers clothes with a utilitarian edge - lots of pockets and durable fabric.
Pro Tip 1/3Practical Over Pretty
Emphasizes function and usefulness over appearance. Good for objects and design.
Alice chose a utilitarian backpack for hiking, valuing its many compartments over style.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Decorative
Indicates something is built for use, not to decorate or look attractive.
The architect’s utilitarian approach resulted in a building focused solely on space efficiency.
Pro Tip 3/3Function First
Describes an item designed to fulfill a specific need, often sacrificing aesthetics.
He prefers clothes with a utilitarian edge - lots of pockets and durable fabric.
Pro Tip 1/3Practical Over Pretty
Emphasizes function and usefulness over appearance. Good for objects and design.
Alice chose a utilitarian backpack for hiking, valuing its many compartments over style.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Decorative
Indicates something is built for use, not to decorate or look attractive.
The architect’s utilitarian approach resulted in a building focused solely on space efficiency.
Pro Tip 3/3Function First
Describes an item designed to fulfill a specific need, often sacrificing aesthetics.
He prefers clothes with a utilitarian edge - lots of pockets and durable fabric.
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Video examples
Corruption, wealth and...
from utilitarian rafts to the Doge's own ostentatious gilded barge. Like a modern day taxi system, gondolas were leased to boatmen who made the rounds of the city's ferry stations. Passengers paid a fare to be carried from one side of the Grand Canal to the other, as well as to other points around the city.
Video examples
A brief history of...
shared a utilitarian purpose with other cultures around the world, some of whose languages incidentally have no word for art. So how do we define what we call art? Generally speaking, what we're talking about here is work that visually communicates meaning beyond language,
Video examples
Lessons from fashion's...
because the courts decided long ago that apparel is too utilitarian to qualify for copyright protection they didn't want a handful of designers owning the seminal building blocks of our clothing and then everybody else would have to license this cuff for this sleeve
Video examples
Johanna Blakely: Lessons...
Now, the reason for this, the reason that the fashion industry doesn't have any copyright protection is because the courts decided long ago that apparel is too utilitarian to qualify for copyright protection. They didn't want a handful of designers
Video examples
Bring on the learning...
or if they have any to speak of. I meet all kinds of people who don't think they're really good at anything. Actually, I kind of divide the world into two groups now. Jeremy Bentham, the great utilitarian philosopher, once spiked this argument.
Video examples
Bring on the learning...
or if they have any to speak of. I meet all kinds of people who don't think they're really good at anything. Actually, I kind of divide the world into two groups now. Jeremy Bentham, the great utilitarian philosopher, once spiked this argument.
Video examples
What moral decisions...
So it seems that people want cars to be utilitarian, minimize total harm, and that's what we should all do. Problem solved. But there is a little catch. When we asked people whether they would purchase such cars, they said, "Absolutely not."
Video examples
The 3,000-year history...
It doesn't happen that often for a garment to have so much symbolism and history and that encompasses so many different universes as the hoodie. So, like all garments, especially all truly utilitarian garments,
Video examples
Why These People Love...
Detroiter oh you got to do is just set up shop I've been here for all these years and you know what is this home I love Detroit character Detroit is utilitarian we're resilient we're tough if you drop
Video examples
Design that’s in...
the second one is cost and the third one is aesthetic function for me is dealing with very utilitarian aspect of the object how do you use it when you use it and what you use it for cost deals with
Video examples
Corruption, wealth and...
from utilitarian rafts to the Doge's own ostentatious gilded barge. Like a modern day taxi system, gondolas were leased to boatmen who made the rounds of the city's ferry stations. Passengers paid a fare to be carried from one side of the Grand Canal to the other, as well as to other points around the city.
Video examples
A brief history of...
shared a utilitarian purpose with other cultures around the world, some of whose languages incidentally have no word for art. So how do we define what we call art? Generally speaking, what we're talking about here is work that visually communicates meaning beyond language,
Video examples
Lessons from fashion's...
because the courts decided long ago that apparel is too utilitarian to qualify for copyright protection they didn't want a handful of designers owning the seminal building blocks of our clothing and then everybody else would have to license this cuff for this sleeve
Video examples
Johanna Blakely: Lessons...
Now, the reason for this, the reason that the fashion industry doesn't have any copyright protection is because the courts decided long ago that apparel is too utilitarian to qualify for copyright protection. They didn't want a handful of designers
Video examples
Bring on the learning...
or if they have any to speak of. I meet all kinds of people who don't think they're really good at anything. Actually, I kind of divide the world into two groups now. Jeremy Bentham, the great utilitarian philosopher, once spiked this argument.
Video examples
Bring on the learning...
or if they have any to speak of. I meet all kinds of people who don't think they're really good at anything. Actually, I kind of divide the world into two groups now. Jeremy Bentham, the great utilitarian philosopher, once spiked this argument.
Video examples
What moral decisions...
So it seems that people want cars to be utilitarian, minimize total harm, and that's what we should all do. Problem solved. But there is a little catch. When we asked people whether they would purchase such cars, they said, "Absolutely not."
Video examples
The 3,000-year history...
It doesn't happen that often for a garment to have so much symbolism and history and that encompasses so many different universes as the hoodie. So, like all garments, especially all truly utilitarian garments,
Video examples
Why These People Love...
Detroiter oh you got to do is just set up shop I've been here for all these years and you know what is this home I love Detroit character Detroit is utilitarian we're resilient we're tough if you drop
Video examples
Design that’s in...
the second one is cost and the third one is aesthetic function for me is dealing with very utilitarian aspect of the object how do you use it when you use it and what you use it for cost deals with
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jens Martin Skibsted
Danish Designer
Effective altruism is a philosophy and social movement which tries to work out the most effective ways to improve the world. Effective altruists - conform to old-school utilitarian principles - consider all causes and actions, and then act in the way that they believe brings about the greatest positive impact.
Quote examples
Elias James Corey
American Scientist
It is fortunate that molecular synthesis also serves the utilitarian function of producing quantities of rare or novel substances which satisfy human needs, especially with regard to health, and the scientific function of stimulating research and education throughout the whole discipline of chemistry.
Quote examples
Geoff Ryman
Canadian Writer
My favourite sites are all about web accessiblity, like Jakob Nielsen's site, but I'm afraid I've got quite utilitarian in my uses of the web. I buy things for friends and family in America on it. I find train times on it. I get a quick short article on a subject from it. I do not surf for fun much.
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
Artists are political in the sense that they've subtracted themselves from the structure of the marketplace and are contributing something that's not utilitarian. Even though books get sold, and I get advances, I get to look at society and think for a living.
Quote examples
Eugenio Montale
Italian Poet
There is poetry even in prose, in all the great prose which is not merely utilitarian or didactic: there exist poets who write in prose or at least in more or less apparent prose; millions of poets write verses which have no connection with poetry.
Quote examples
Jonathan Kozol
American Writer
Childhood ought to have at least a few entitlements that aren't entangled with utilitarian considerations. One of them should be the right to a degree of unencumbered satisfaction in the sheer delight and goodness of existence in itself.
Quote examples
John D'Agata
American Writer
By embracing a label such as 'non-fiction,' the creative writing community has signaled to the world that what goes on in this genre is at best utilitarian and at worst an utter mystery. We have segregated the genre from art.
Quote examples
Claude Debussy
French Composer
Art is the most beautiful deception of all. And although people try to incorporate the everyday events of life in it, we must hope that it will remain a deception lest it become a utilitarian thing, sad as a factory.
Quote examples
Jean Piaget
Swiss Psychologist
In other words, knowledge of the external world begins with an immediate utilisation of things, whereas knowledge of self is stopped by this purely practical and utilitarian contact.
Quote examples
Haley Bennett
American Actress
I prefer clean silhouettes that are almost utilitarian, but I'm not afraid to take risks on the red carpet, either.
Quote examples
Jens Martin Skibsted
Danish Designer
Effective altruism is a philosophy and social movement which tries to work out the most effective ways to improve the world. Effective altruists - conform to old-school utilitarian principles - consider all causes and actions, and then act in the way that they believe brings about the greatest positive impact.
Quote examples
Elias James Corey
American Scientist
It is fortunate that molecular synthesis also serves the utilitarian function of producing quantities of rare or novel substances which satisfy human needs, especially with regard to health, and the scientific function of stimulating research and education throughout the whole discipline of chemistry.
Quote examples
Geoff Ryman
Canadian Writer
My favourite sites are all about web accessiblity, like Jakob Nielsen's site, but I'm afraid I've got quite utilitarian in my uses of the web. I buy things for friends and family in America on it. I find train times on it. I get a quick short article on a subject from it. I do not surf for fun much.
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
Artists are political in the sense that they've subtracted themselves from the structure of the marketplace and are contributing something that's not utilitarian. Even though books get sold, and I get advances, I get to look at society and think for a living.
Quote examples
Eugenio Montale
Italian Poet
There is poetry even in prose, in all the great prose which is not merely utilitarian or didactic: there exist poets who write in prose or at least in more or less apparent prose; millions of poets write verses which have no connection with poetry.
Quote examples
Jonathan Kozol
American Writer
Childhood ought to have at least a few entitlements that aren't entangled with utilitarian considerations. One of them should be the right to a degree of unencumbered satisfaction in the sheer delight and goodness of existence in itself.
Quote examples
John D'Agata
American Writer
By embracing a label such as 'non-fiction,' the creative writing community has signaled to the world that what goes on in this genre is at best utilitarian and at worst an utter mystery. We have segregated the genre from art.
Quote examples
Claude Debussy
French Composer
Art is the most beautiful deception of all. And although people try to incorporate the everyday events of life in it, we must hope that it will remain a deception lest it become a utilitarian thing, sad as a factory.
Quote examples
Jean Piaget
Swiss Psychologist
In other words, knowledge of the external world begins with an immediate utilisation of things, whereas knowledge of self is stopped by this purely practical and utilitarian contact.
Quote examples
Haley Bennett
American Actress
I prefer clean silhouettes that are almost utilitarian, but I'm not afraid to take risks on the red carpet, either.
Example 1 of 10
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