pragmatism

noun

prag·​ma·​tism ˈprag-mə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce pragmatism (audio)
1
: a practical approach to problems and affairs
tried to strike a balance between principles and pragmatism
2
: an American movement in philosophy founded by C. S. Peirce and William James and marked by the doctrines that the meaning of conceptions is to be sought in their practical bearings, that the function of thought is to guide action, and that truth is preeminently to be tested by the practical consequences of belief
pragmatist adjective or noun
pragmatistic adjective

Examples of pragmatism in a Sentence

To put it rather more crudely, he is trying to sell his integrationist and reformist agenda using traditionalist legal wrappings. It is, of course, this pragmatism, which sometimes comes across as slippery casuistry, that so annoys his critics. Malise Ruthven, New York Review of Books, 16 Aug. 2007
These are books without slogans, manuals that favor subtlety over simplicity, moderation over bombast, pragmatism over ideology. Jonathan Tepperman, New York Times Book Review, 16 Oct 2005
… compromise (or better yet, its spirit) symbolizes the necessary pragmatism expected of politics in a pluralist society. Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings … , 1996
The right person for the job will balance vision with pragmatism.
Recent Examples on the Web The rise of climate pragmatism is visible in different forms. Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 The war in Ukraine has smashed the remnants of pragmatism in the Kremlin’s foreign policy. Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2024 Hopefully, voters will reward climate pragmatism and policy evolution. Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 On Wednesday afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris will seek to put some meat on the bones of her economic agenda, intending to convey that pragmatism will be her guiding economic principle. Courtenay Brown, Axios, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pragmatism 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pragmatism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see pragmatic

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pragmatism was circa 1864

Dictionary Entries Near pragmatism

Cite this Entry

“Pragmatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pragmatism. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pragmatism

noun
prag·​ma·​tism ˈprag-mə-ˌtiz-əm How to pronounce pragmatism (audio)
1
: a practical approach to problems and affairs
2
: a doctrine that truth is to be tested by the practical effects of belief
pragmatist adjective or noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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