utilitarian Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun someone who believes that the value of a thing depends on its utility
adjective satellite having a useful function
useful.
- utilitarian steel tables
adjective satellite having utility often to the exclusion of values
- plain utilitarian kitchenware

See Utility.

Of or pertaining to utility; consisting in utility; iming at utility as distinguished from beauty, ornament, etc.; sometimes, reproachfully, evincing, or characterized by, a regard for utility of a lower kind, or marked by a sordid spirit; as, utilitarian narrowness; a utilitarian indifference to art.
Of or pertaining to utilitarianism; supporting utilitarianism; as, the utilitarian view of morality; the Utilitarian Society. J. S. Mill.

One who holds the doctrine of utilitarianism.
The utilitarians are for merging all the particular virtues into one, and would substitute in their place the greatest usefulness, as the alone principle to which every question respecting the morality of actions should be referred. Chalmers.

But what is a utilitarian? Simply one who prefers the useful to the useless; and who does not? Sir W. Hamilton.