pragmatism

prag·ma·tism | \ ˈprag-mə-ˌti-zəm

How to pronounce pragmatism (audio)

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Definition of pragmatism

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

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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 Eventually, pragmatism takes over; life goes on in a low, comfortable wedge. — Susan Dominus, New York Times, "Hope and High Drama: A Year With Two New Democratic Congresswomen," 18 Nov. 2019 This year saw the deaths of people who shifted culture through prose, pragmatism and persistence. — Bernard Mcghee, Twin Cities, "Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019," 29 Dec. 2019 This year saw the deaths of people who shifted culture through prose, pragmatism and persistence. — Washington Post, "Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019," 27 Dec. 2019 Analysts of separatism believe prison has persuaded Mr Junqueras to abandon the unilateral strategy of 2017 for the kind of pragmatism practised by the Scottish National Party. — The Economist, "Why Pedro Sánchez needs an agreement with Catalan separatists," 12 Dec. 2019 The centrism and pragmatism that gave Tony Blair's Labour Party a decade in power appears to be gone. — Luke Mcgee, CNN, "Jeremy Corbyn was once a radical outsider. Now he has the chance to transform the UK," 28 Nov. 2019 For all his intelligence and sensitivity, Lopez dodges that particular challenge, letting the productive conflict between Eric’s idealism and Henry’s grizzled, cynical pragmatism dissipate, rather than resolve. — Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, "“The Inheritance” Is a Tribute to E. M. Forster and an Audacious Work of Its Own," 25 Nov. 2019 This year saw the deaths of people who shifted culture through prose, pragmatism and persistence. — Washington Post, "Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019," 16 Dec. 2019 This year saw the deaths of people who shifted culture through prose, pragmatism and persistence. — Bernard Mcghee, The Denver Post, "Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019," 16 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pragmatism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near pragmatism

pragmatic maxim

pragmatic sanction

Statistics for pragmatism

Last Updated

18 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Pragmatism.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pragmatist. Accessed 23 January 2020.

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