# utilitarian

/juˌtɪɫəˈtɛɹiən/ (US) · /jˌuːtɪlɪtˈeəɹiən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/utilitarian
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. practical and functional

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

designed to be useful and practical rather than attractive or comfortable.

For teachers: designed for utility and function rather than aesthetic appeal or ornamentation.

- The factory workers wore utilitarian uniforms that were tough but not very stylish.
- The architect's utilitarian approach resulted in a building that was highly efficient for storage but lacked any decorative character.

### 2. relating to utilitarianism

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

relating to the idea that the best action is the one that helps the most people.

For teachers: pertaining to the ethical theory of utilitarianism, which posits that the best action is the one that maximises overall utility or happiness.

- From a utilitarian perspective, the new road is good because it helps thousands of drivers.
- The committee adopted a utilitarian framework to decide how to distribute the limited medical supplies during the crisis.

### 3. a follower of utilitarianism

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

someone who believes that we should always try to do the most good for the greatest number of people.

For teachers: an adherent or advocate of the ethical doctrine of utilitarianism.

- As a utilitarian, she argued that the budget should focus on public health rather than art.
- Early utilitarians like Jeremy Bentham argued that social policies should be judged solely by their ability to increase collective pleasure.

## Examples

- The office furniture is plain and utilitarian.
- The architect chose a utilitarian design for the warehouse to keep construction costs low and maximize storage space.
- While the exterior of the building is strictly utilitarian, the interior features surprising artistic details that contrast with its industrial purpose.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.