pragmatism
noun
prag·ma·tism
ˈprag-mə-ˌti-zəm 
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
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.
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
This shift transformed conversations, fostering deeper engagement as optimism was paired with pragmatism, accountability and understanding.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Minimal pragmatism meets elegance with this season’s luxe comfort sandals.
—Laura Lajiness Kaupke, refinery29.com, 21 Mar. 2025
The market for her talents is there, but her ambitions are thwarted by her brother and business partner Raymond, whose pragmatism leads him to spend more time weighing risks than daydreaming about rewards.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
While pragmatism in foreign affairs is necessary, reducing the survival of a sovereign nation to a game of leverage risks trivializing the stakes at hand.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pragmatism
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Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Minimal pragmatism meets elegance with this season’s luxe comfort sandals.
—Laura Lajiness Kaupke, refinery29.com, 21 Mar. 2025
The market for her talents is there, but her ambitions are thwarted by her brother and business partner Raymond, whose pragmatism leads him to spend more time weighing risks than daydreaming about rewards.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
While pragmatism in foreign affairs is necessary, reducing the survival of a sovereign nation to a game of leverage risks trivializing the stakes at hand.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pragmatism
Cite this Entry
“Pragmatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pragmatism. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pragmatism
noun
prag·ma·tism
ˈprag-mə-ˌtiz-əm
1
: a practical approach to problems and affairs
2
: a doctrine that truth is to be tested by the practical effects of belief
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