- Today's Word
Utilitarian
yoo-til-ih-TAIR-ee-uhn
Definition
(adjective) Designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive.
Example
The apartment had a utilitarian design—nothing fancy, but everything served a purpose.
Fun Fact
In both design and ethics, utilitarianism has shaped everything from minimalist furniture to moral theory. In philosophy, it’s tied to thinkers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, who argued that the best actions are those that produce the most good for the most people.
(adjective) Distant from the ordinary; elevated, refined, or thin (as in air at high altitudes).
The scientist’s rarefied theories fascinated her peers but left the public scratching their heads.
From Latin rarefacere, meaning “to make thin.”