Added 10 October 2026
utilitarian
/juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛəɹi.ən/ adjective
In Latin: none, coined in 1781 Coined: 1781, by Jeremy Bentham Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about utilitarian at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Of or relating to utility.
- Pertaining to utilitarianism.
- Practical and functional, present for use, not just for show.
noun
- Someone who practices or advocates utilitarianism.
Origin
From utility + -arian. Coined by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham as early as 1781, and popularized by his student John Stuart Mill, who mistakenly attributed the term to John Galt.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)