Refers to a school of philosophy based on the ideas of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) The main principle involved was that private morality and government policy should be based on the concept of "general utility,"-the greatest good for the greatest number
someone who believes that the value of a thing depends on its utility having a useful function; "utilitarian steel tables" having utility often to the exclusion of values; "plain utilitarian kitchenware
Utilitarian means based on the idea that the morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people. It was James Mill who was the best publicist for utilitarian ideas on government. A utilitarian is someone with utilitarian views. One of the greatest utilitarians was Claude Helvetius
Utilitarian objects and buildings are designed to be useful rather than attractive. Bruce's office is a corner one, utilitarian and unglamorous. = functional
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