pragmatism
noun
prag·ma·tism
ˈprag-mə-ˌti-zəm 
1
: a practical approach to problems and affairs
tried to strike a balance between principles and pragmatism
2
: an American movement in philosophy founded by C. S. Peirce and William James and marked by the doctrines that the meaning of conceptions is to be sought in their practical bearings, that the function of thought is to guide action, and that truth is preeminently to be tested by the practical consequences of belief
Examples of pragmatism in a Sentence
To put it rather more crudely, he is trying to sell his integrationist and reformist agenda using traditionalist legal wrappings. It is, of course, this pragmatism, which sometimes comes across as slippery casuistry, that so annoys his critics.
—
Malise Ruthven, New York Review of Books, 16 Aug. 2007
These are books without slogans, manuals that favor subtlety over simplicity, moderation over bombast, pragmatism over ideology.
—Jonathan Tepperman, New York Times Book Review, 16 Oct 2005
… compromise (or better yet, its spirit) symbolizes the necessary pragmatism expected of politics in a pluralist society.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings … , 1996
The right person for the job will balance vision with pragmatism.
Malise Ruthven, New York Review of Books, 16 Aug. 2007
These are books without slogans, manuals that favor subtlety over simplicity, moderation over bombast, pragmatism over ideology.
—Jonathan Tepperman, New York Times Book Review, 16 Oct 2005
… compromise (or better yet, its spirit) symbolizes the necessary pragmatism expected of politics in a pluralist society.
—Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings … , 1996
The right person for the job will balance vision with pragmatism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Then comes the Aquarius moon, cutting through the emotional density with an icy burst of intellectual pragmatism.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Still, his government maintains some Chinese financial ties, including a standing currency swap with the People’s Bank of China, showing that pragmatism may temper ideology.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Reinstating regular meetings between Mogadishu and member states would be a useful first step, but this will still need to be followed by a great deal of pragmatism and compromise on both sides.
—Omar S Mahmood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
As Wang attempts to bring a couple back from the edge of crisis, sympathies shift between husband, wife and mistress while emotion, pragmatism and cultural norms collide.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pragmatism
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Still, his government maintains some Chinese financial ties, including a standing currency swap with the People’s Bank of China, showing that pragmatism may temper ideology.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Reinstating regular meetings between Mogadishu and member states would be a useful first step, but this will still need to be followed by a great deal of pragmatism and compromise on both sides.
—Omar S Mahmood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
As Wang attempts to bring a couple back from the edge of crisis, sympathies shift between husband, wife and mistress while emotion, pragmatism and cultural norms collide.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pragmatism
Cite this Entry
“Pragmatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pragmatism. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pragmatism
noun
prag·ma·tism
ˈprag-mə-ˌtiz-əm
1
: a practical approach to problems and affairs
2
: a doctrine that truth is to be tested by the practical effects of belief
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share