pragmatism.

1. An approach that favors workable consequences over rigid adherence to ideals.

2. A philosophical approach that examines ideas through their practical consequences and role in inquiry.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• political pragmatism
• pragmatic compromise

On the page

Pragmatism led both sides to accept the temporary arrangement.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: Usually uncountable; no ordinary plural in this sense. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: analysis, explanation. Commonness: moderately common.