Meaning & use
the pragmatist
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Meanings
nouncountable
a person who deals with problems in a practical way, based on what works rather than on fixed ideas
Grammar: Countable noun; use 'a pragmatist' for one, 'pragmatists' for many. Often used after 'be' or 'become'.
Patterns
- a pragmatist who
- be a pragmatist
- as a pragmatist
As a pragmatist, she ignored the theory and focused on getting the job done.
He is a pragmatist who cares more about results than about pleasing everyone.
The mayor, a pragmatist, approved the plan because it was cheap and effective.
nouncountabletechnical
a supporter of pragmatism, a philosophical movement that judges ideas by their practical results
Grammar: In philosophy, often capitalized as 'Pragmatist' when referring to a follower of the school of Pragmatism.
Patterns
- a pragmatist philosopher
- the pragmatists argued
William James was a leading pragmatist who argued that truth is what works.
The pragmatists rejected the idea that truth is fixed and independent of experience.
Word forms
| plural | pragmatists |
|---|
Common combinations
- a political pragmatist
- She is a political pragmatist who supports whatever policy wins votes.
- a hard-headed pragmatist
- He is a hard-headed pragmatist with no time for unrealistic plans.
- become a pragmatist
- After years in business, he became a pragmatist.
Synonyms and how they differ
- realist
- A realist accepts things as they are, but may not actively seek practical solutions the way a pragmatist does.
- practical person
- A general phrase; 'pragmatist' is more formal and suggests a deliberate philosophy or approach.
Opposites
Word family
- pragmatic adjective
- dealing with problems in a practical way
- pragmatically adverb
- in a practical way
- pragmatism noun
- the quality of being practical, or the philosophical movement
Commonly confused: the pragmatist or pragmatist vs. pragmatic?
the pragmatist vs pragmatist vs. pragmatic
'Pragmatic' is an adjective ('a pragmatic approach'); 'pragmatist' is the person noun ('she is a pragmatist').
Practice
My boss is a ______: she only cares about whether a plan actually works.
Choose one answer.
The blank needs a noun for a person, so 'pragmatist' is correct. 'Pragmatic' is an adjective, 'pragmatism' is the quality, and 'pragmatically' is an adverb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the pragmatist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.