pragmatism

CEFRC1

/ˈpɹæɡmətɪzəm/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A practical approach that focuses on what works.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    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.

Examples

  • International relations are governed by pragmatism.

  • Our conception of these practical consequences is for us the whole of our conception of the object, so far as that conception has positive significance at all. This is the principle of [Charles Sanders] Peirce, the principle of pragmatism.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1

Also pronounced

  • /ˈpɹaɡmətɪzəm/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. The theory that political problems should be met with practical solutions rather than ideological ones.

  2. The pursuit of practicality over aesthetic qualities; a concentration on facts rather than emotions or ideals.

  3. The habit of interfering in other people's affairs; meddlesomeness.

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

His blank led him to accept the compromise that solved the problem quickly.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Ancient Greek stem of πρᾶγμα (prâgma, “act”) + -ism.