Added 10 October 2026
pragmatism
/ˈpɹæɡmətɪzəm/ noun
In Latin: prāgmatismus Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about pragmatism at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- The pursuit of practicality over aesthetic qualities; a concentration on facts rather than emotions or ideals.
- The idea that beliefs are identified with the actions of a believer, and the truth of beliefs with success of those actions in securing a believer's goals; the doctrine that ideas must be looked at in terms of their practical effects and consequences.
- The theory that political problems should be met with practical solutions rather than ideological ones.
Origin
From Ancient Greek stem of πρᾶγμα (prâgma, “act”) + -ism.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)