Word bank

Improve your reading skills, Memorize words and practice vocabulary

Memorized by 30+ users

utilitarian

/juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛːɹi.ən/

Meanings
  • adjective

    Relating to or being a theory or practice that advocates the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

    - "Utilitarian policies prioritize the overall happiness of the population."
    - "The utilitarian approach to ethics is based on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain."
  • noun

    A person who believes in or practices utilitarianism.

    - "The utilitarian philosopher argued that the greatest good for the greatest number should be the guiding principle of moral decisions."
    - "John Stuart Mill is considered one of the most influential utilitarian philosophers."

Rhymes
Words rhyming with utilitarian
utility , pietistic , citrine , pietistician
Variants
List of all variants of utilitarian that leads to same result
utilitarian , utilitarians
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Latin "utilis", meaning useful, and the suffix "-itarian", denoting a system of belief.


Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word
  1. Utilitarianism was first formally articulated by the British philosopher Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century.

  2. The term 'utilitarian' was coined by Bentham's contemporary, James Mill, to describe his father's philosophical views.


Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to
  1. consequentialism: Utilitarianism is a type of consequentialist theory, which holds that the moral value of an action is determined by its consequences.

  2. hedonism: Utilitarianism shares some similarities with hedonism, which holds that pleasure is the ultimate goal of human life.

  3. act-utilitarianism: Act utilitarianism is a specific form of utilitarianism that holds that the morality of an action is determined by its consequences, rather than the intention behind the action.


Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Utilitarianism has been a major influence on Western philosophy, particularly in the areas of ethics and economics. It has been used to justify various social policies, such as the provision of public goods and services, and has been a central theme in debates about individual rights and the role of government.

How to Memorize "utilitarian"

  1. visualize

    - Visualize a group of people, each representing a different member of society. The utilitarian approach would be to consider the happiness of each individual in the group and make decisions that maximize overall happiness.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'utilitarian' with the idea of maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering for the greatest number of people.

  3. mnemonics

    - Use the mnemonic 'U Maximizes Happiness' to remember the meaning of utilitarian.

🧠 Bonus Tips

To help you remember the word 'utilitarian', follow these practical tricks with steps:

1. Association with utility: Think of the word 'utilitarian' as something related to 'utility' or 'useful'. It refers to something that is designed to be practical and useful rather than attractive.

2. Breaking down the word: Break down the word 'utilitarian' into smaller parts - 'util' and 'itarian'. 'Util' means useful and 'itarian' means relating to. So, 'utilitarian' means something that relates to usefulness.

3. Visualization: Visualize a toolbox filled with practical and useful tools. This can help you remember the word 'utilitarian' as it relates to something that is practical and useful.

4. Mnemonic sentence: Create a mnemonic sentence using the word 'utilitarian', such as 'The utilitarian design of the toolbox made it easy to use.'

5. Regular practice: Practice using the word 'utilitarian' in sentences and conversations regularly to help reinforce it in your memory.


Memorize "utilitarian" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize utilitarian is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

  1. Highlighting:

    Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.

  2. Periodic Reminders:

    Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.