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
Lazar presented the Breakthrough Award to producer Roselilah, whose acceptance speech mixed pragmatism with humor.
—Lily Moayeri, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2026
Coretta was struck by how Howard, who at one point waved a stalk of Iowa corn to rally the crowd, used homespun pragmatism to challenge the basic assumptions of national security.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
That pragmatism has unsettled the party’s conservative faction, led by the military, which is wary of his reform agenda and intent on preserving socialist discipline.
—Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
As sea ice thaws, the prospect of resource extraction will be appealing in an energy-hungry world where climate pragmatism is the new guideline.
—Chloe Demrovsky, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pragmatism
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Lily Moayeri, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2026
Coretta was struck by how Howard, who at one point waved a stalk of Iowa corn to rally the crowd, used homespun pragmatism to challenge the basic assumptions of national security.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
That pragmatism has unsettled the party’s conservative faction, led by the military, which is wary of his reform agenda and intent on preserving socialist discipline.
—Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
As sea ice thaws, the prospect of resource extraction will be appealing in an energy-hungry world where climate pragmatism is the new guideline.
—Chloe Demrovsky, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
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 Jan. 2026.
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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