utilitarian
gb/jutˌɪlətˈɛɹiən/ us/jutˌɪlətˈɛɹiən/
B2
Inglês
Acepções
0 acepção
adjective
B2
property
1
practical, not decorative
made mainly to be useful, not pretty
Padrão de uso:
[a utilitarian + noun]
Erro comum:
Don’t confuse with "humanitarian" (helping people) or "utility" (a service like gas/electricity).
Sinônimos
functional (Emphasizes how well something works.)
|
practical (Emphasizes usefulness in real situations.)
|
no-frills (Informal; stresses lack of extra features.)
|
plain (Stresses simple appearance, sometimes negatively.)
|
serviceable (Means adequate for the job, not impressive.)
Antônimos
decorative (Made mainly to look attractive.)
|
ornamental (Intended as decoration rather than use.)
|
luxurious (High-quality and comfort-focused rather than strictly necessary.)
Colocações
utilitarian design
|utilitarian building
|utilitarian furniture
|utilitarian clothing
|utilitarian style
|utilitarian purpose
|utilitarian function
|utilitarian solution
|utilitarian object
|utilitarian look
Temas
daily_life
|design
|materials
Exemplos
- The apartment is small but clean, with utilitarian furniture and very little decoration.
- She chose a utilitarian backpack that would survive daily commuting.
- The website redesign aims for a more utilitarian layout that loads quickly on phones.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The kitchen is utilitarian and easy to clean.
- I bought a utilitarian coat for rainy weather.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
relating to utilitarianism
about the idea that the best action helps most people
Padrão de uso:
[a utilitarian + noun]
Erro comum:
In philosophy, it does not mean “useful design”; it refers to a moral theory.
Sinônimos
consequentialist (Broader term; includes utilitarianism and other consequence-based theories.)
Antônimos
deontological (Judges actions by duties/rules rather than outcomes.)
Colocações
utilitarian ethics
|utilitarian theory
|utilitarian reasoning
|utilitarian principles
|utilitarian calculus
|utilitarian argument
|utilitarian perspective
|utilitarian framework
|utilitarian moral view
|utilitarian justification
Temas
philosophy
|ethics
|education
Exemplos
- The professor compared utilitarian and deontological approaches to medical triage.
- A utilitarian argument might support the policy if it increases overall well-being.
- Her essay criticizes utilitarian ethics for ignoring individual rights in extreme cases.
Exemplos para estudantes
- In class we studied utilitarian ethics.
- He used a utilitarian argument about the results.
Substantivo
formal
C1
role
3
supporter of utilitarianism
a person who believes in utilitarianism
Padrão de uso:
[a/the] utilitarian
Erro comum:
Not the same as a “utility worker” or someone who likes practical objects.
Sinônimos
consequentialist (Broader category; not all consequentialists are utilitarians.)
Antônimos
deontologist (Someone who emphasizes duties/rules over consequences.)
Colocações
a committed utilitarian
|a strict utilitarian
|utilitarians argue that
|self-described utilitarian
|utilitarian philosopher
Temas
philosophy
|ethics
Exemplos
- As a utilitarian, she believes policies should be judged by how much happiness they produce overall.
- The debate set a utilitarian against a rights-based theorist.
- He’s not a utilitarian; he thinks some actions are wrong no matter the outcome.
Exemplos para estudantes
- He is a utilitarian in his moral views.
Gramática
Forma no dicionário
utilitarian
AFI
GB/jutˌɪlətˈɛɹiən/
US/jutˌɪlətˈɛɹiən/
Sílabas e tonicidade
util - it - ari - an (4 sílabas)
Stress on 4th syllable (an)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: utilitarian
Noun
- Base: utilitarian
- Plural: utilitarians
Expressões
rule utilitarianism
1/ɹˈul jˌutˈɪlɪtˈɑɹiənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
technical
utilitarianism based on rules
a type of utilitarianism that follows rules that help most people
Exemplos
- Rule utilitarianism tries to preserve the benefits of rules while keeping utilitarian goals.
- In the seminar, students contrasted rule utilitarianism with act utilitarianism.
- She argues that rule utilitarianism better protects individual rights in everyday situations.
utilitarian approach
1/jutˌɪlətˈɛɹiən əpɹˈoʊt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
focus on practical results
a way of doing something that is mainly practical
Exemplos
- They took a utilitarian approach to the renovation, choosing durable materials over expensive finishes.
- Her utilitarian approach to budgeting leaves little room for impulse purchases.
- The team adopted a utilitarian approach: fix the biggest problems first.
utilitarian design
1/jutˌɪlətˈɛɹiən dɪzˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
design focused on function
design made to work well, not to look fancy
Exemplos
- Utilitarian design is popular in small apartments because it saves space.
- The brand is known for utilitarian design—simple shapes and tough fabrics.
- The new bus station favors utilitarian design over grand architecture.
utilitarian ethics
1/jutˌɪlətˈɛɹiən ˈɛθɪks/
fixed phrase
formal
ethics based on outcomes
the idea that the best choice is the one with the best results for most people
Exemplos
- Utilitarian ethics can support sacrificing a small benefit to avoid a much larger harm.
- The article applies utilitarian ethics to decisions about vaccine distribution.
- Critics argue that utilitarian ethics can permit unfair treatment of minorities.