utilitarian

1 of 2

noun

util·​i·​tar·​i·​an (ˌ)yü-ˌti-lə-ˈter-ē-ən 

: an advocate or adherent of utilitarianism

utilitarian

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or relating to or advocating utilitarianism

2

: marked by utilitarian views or practices

3

a

: of, relating to, or aiming at utility

b

: exhibiting or preferring mere utility

spare utilitarian furnishings

Examples of utilitarian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Koolhaas sang the joys of juxtapositions in his 1978 book Delirious New York, and here his firm has cultivated a distinctively New York–y jangle of forms in which the utilitarian becomes the theatrical. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Mar. 2026

And even the ethical people have differing perspectives—hard-core utilitarians focus on suffering—and then there are people like me who have more ambitious visions. —Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026

Adjective

The young men present were dressed in utilitarian T-shirt and jean combos; the women wore tweed blazers, Moncler puffers, leather jackets, and multicolored suede Adidas sneakers. —Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026

Patch pockets add a subtle utilitarian touch and extra storage for small essentials. —Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1781, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for utilitarian

• antiquarian
• libertarian
• millenarian
• nonsectarian
• proletarian
• sanitarian
• trinitarian
• unitarian
• vegetarian
• veterinarian
• agrarian
• aquarian

Kids Definition

utilitarian

adjective

util·​i·​tar·​i·​an

(ˌ)yü-ˌtil-ə-ˈter-ē-ən

1

: of or relating to utility

2

: aiming at usefulness rather than beauty

utilitarian furniture