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
Trump’s hands-off approach to the Virginia gubernatorial race appears driven as much by political pragmatism as by personal history.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
Advertisement To many, including Tim’s former coach and longtime friend Urban Meyer, this both-sidesism seems like understandable pragmatism.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Thomas Frank has brought in the pragmatism Postecoglou pigheadedly failed to lean on during the majority of his Spurs tenure, but the Dane is probably using a bit too much of it.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Ripley—smart, strong, powerful—suggested that women absolutely could be warriors, and her judgment and pragmatism in Alien serve her infinitely better in the movie than any other qualities could.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
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Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
Advertisement To many, including Tim’s former coach and longtime friend Urban Meyer, this both-sidesism seems like understandable pragmatism.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Thomas Frank has brought in the pragmatism Postecoglou pigheadedly failed to lean on during the majority of his Spurs tenure, but the Dane is probably using a bit too much of it.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Ripley—smart, strong, powerful—suggested that women absolutely could be warriors, and her judgment and pragmatism in Alien serve her infinitely better in the movie than any other qualities could.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 30 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 7 Nov. 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
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