pragmatism

noun

prag·​ma·​tism ˈprag-mə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce pragmatism (audio)
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
pragmatist adjective or noun
pragmatistic adjective

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.
Recent Examples on the Web Brought in to instil a more dominant, technical style of play, Ten Hag has shown pragmatism and not a lot else in his coaching methods. Liam Canning, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 But Tusk – a politician with a reputation for pragmatism and restraint – showed his intentions within days of taking office. Rob Picheta, CNN, 27 Jan. 2024 This is not to suggest that this is all about pragmatism. Roger Trapp, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 In this race, Haley has cast herself as the practical alternative to both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and no one running on strength and pragmatism can show up in -10ºF in a sheath dress. Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2024 This stubbornness, masquerading under the pretense of civic duty, stands in stark, almost jarring contrast to the forward-thinking pragmatism that is indispensably needed for a meaningful and enduring urban transformation. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024 His relative anonymity and young age turned out to be non-issues as fans quickly fell in love with his witty and adventurous portrayal of The Doctor. 12 of 14 Peter Capaldi Adding some pragmatism to the character was Peter Calpadi, who took over from 2013 to 2017. Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 25 Nov. 2023 There is, no doubt, a mix of pragmatism and principle in her position. Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2024 Credit to the Niners for being pragmatic this season, empowering Purdy and putting him in comfortable situations, but true pragmatism calls for a pro-style offense on Sunday. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2024

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.

Word History

Etymology

see pragmatic

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pragmatism was circa 1864

Dictionary Entries Near pragmatism

Cite this Entry

“Pragmatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pragmatism. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pragmatism

noun
prag·​ma·​tism ˈprag-mə-ˌtiz-əm How to pronounce pragmatism (audio)
1
: a practical approach to problems and affairs
2
: a doctrine that truth is to be tested by the practical effects of belief
pragmatist adjective or noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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