pragmatism

pragmatism — noun

1. a habit of handling problems by choosing workable steps for the situation you ac

1.nounC2
Definition

a habit of handling problems by choosing workable steps for the situation you actually face, instead of sticking to fixed beliefs or perfect ideas

Example

After the storm, the mayor's pragmatism put clean water before speeches.

contrast: results before speeches

Mina admired her father's pragmatism when the shop roof began leaking.

Common collocations
  • show pragmatism
  • political pragmatism
  • economic pragmatism
  • pragmatism in government
  • act with pragmatism
Synonyms
  • practicality

    broader and more everyday; it can also describe usefulness in objects or plans

  • realism

    stresses seeing facts clearly, not necessarily choosing the most workable action

  • common sense

    less formal and more everyday; it suggests sound judgment in ordinary situations

  • flexibility

    covers willingness to change plans, but not the full results-focused idea

Antonyms
  • idealism

    focuses on high principles or perfect outcomes more than real limits

  • dogmatism

    means rigid loyalty to fixed beliefs or rules

  • rigidity

    stresses unwillingness to adjust when conditions change

Grammar Patterns

show pragmatism

pragmatism in something

with pragmatism

political pragmatism

Usage Note

Usually uncountable. Common in politics, business, and public decisions, often after verbs like 'show' or with modifiers such as 'political' and 'economic', and it often contrasts with 'idealism' or strict principle.

Common Mistakes

We need more pragmatic in this budget meeting.
We need more pragmatism in this budget meeting.' / 'We need to be more pragmatic in this budget meeting.
'pragmatism' is the noun, while 'pragmatic' is the adjective.
The minister answered with a pragmatism that surprised reporters.
The minister answered with pragmatism, which surprised reporters.
This noun is usually uncountable when you mean the quality itself.

Word family

  • pragmatic
    adjectiveC2
  • pragmatically
    adverbC2
  • pragmatist
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Pragmatism' is a formal word for choosing what works in real conditions, especially in politics, business, or difficult public decisions. 'Practicality' is broader and more everyday; it can describe a useful plan, a sensible choice, or even a well-designed object. 'Realism' focuses on seeing facts as they are, even when they are unpleasant, but a realistic person does not always act. 'Common sense' is less formal and suggests sound everyday judgment. 'Idealism' is the usual opposite because it gives more weight to principles, hopes, or perfect goals. A mayor who cuts a festival to keep a clinic open shows pragmatism. A family buying a small car for city parking shows practicality. A coach who admits the team is not ready shows realism.

pragmatism ↗practicalityrealism ↗common senseidealism

Common collocations

Nouns

  • political pragmatism
  • economic pragmatism
  • sign of pragmatism

Phrases

  • show pragmatism
  • a touch of pragmatism
  • pragmatism over principle

Prepositions

  • pragmatism in
  • with pragmatism

Etymology

GreekFrenchEnglish

Pragmatism came into English in the 1800s through French 'pragmatisme'. It goes back to Greek 'pragma', meaning 'deed', 'act', or 'thing done'. That history fits the modern meaning well, because the word is about action and workable results, not only ideas. In philosophy, pragmatism later became the name of a movement that judged ideas by their practical effects, but in everyday English the noun usually means a realistic, results-focused way of dealing with problems.