pragmatism

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈpræɡməˌtɪzəm/ UK /ˈpræɡmətɪzəm/ See IPA manual

Freq #58281

Meanings

1

noun
a philosophical tradition that evaluates ideas partly through their practical consequences and role in inquiry

Pragmatism asks what practical difference accepting a belief would make.
2

noun
a practical approach that emphasizes workable results over theory or principle

Budget constraints forced the committee to temper idealism with pragmatism.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a philosophical tradition... pragmatic philosophy

2 noun · a practical approach that... practicality realism

Opposites

idealismimpracticalitydogmatism

Word family

Derived forms pragmatist pragmaticpragmatistic

Related forms PeirceJamesinstrumentalism

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

principled pragmatism
a practical approach that seeks workable results while respecting moral principles

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Greek pragma ("deed, action, practical matter") + -ism. Charles Sanders Peirce introduced the philosophical term in the late nineteenth century; William James later popularized it.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# pragmatism

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpræɡməˌtɪzəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpræɡmətɪzəm/
**Frequency rank:** 58281

## Meanings
1. a philosophical tradition that evaluates ideas partly through their practical consequences and role in inquiry
2. a practical approach that emphasizes workable results over theory or principle

## Examples
- Pragmatism asks what practical difference accepting a belief would make.
- Budget constraints forced the committee to temper idealism with pragmatism.

## Synonyms
- practicality
- realism
- pragmatic philosophy

## Antonyms
- idealism
- impracticality
- dogmatism

## Derived Forms
- pragmatist
- pragmatic
- pragmatistic

## Related Forms
- Peirce
- James
- instrumentalism

## Etymology
From Greek pragma ("deed, action, practical matter") + -ism. Charles Sanders Peirce introduced the philosophical term in the late nineteenth century; William James later popularized it.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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