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
The rise of climate pragmatism is visible in different forms.
—Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
The war in Ukraine has smashed the remnants of pragmatism in the Kremlin’s foreign policy.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2024
Hopefully, voters will reward climate pragmatism and policy evolution.
—Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
On Wednesday afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris will seek to put some meat on the bones of her economic agenda, intending to convey that pragmatism will be her guiding economic principle.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pragmatism 
Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
The war in Ukraine has smashed the remnants of pragmatism in the Kremlin’s foreign policy.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2024
Hopefully, voters will reward climate pragmatism and policy evolution.
—Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
On Wednesday afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris will seek to put some meat on the bones of her economic agenda, intending to convey that pragmatism will be her guiding economic principle.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pragmatism
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pragmatism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pragmatism
Cite this Entry
“Pragmatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pragmatism. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
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