consequentialism

UK/ˌkɒn(t)sɪˈkwɛnʃəlɪzəm/UK/ˌkɒn(t)səˈkwɛnʃəlɪzəm/US/ˌkɑn(t)sɪˈkwɛnʃəlɪzəm/US/ˌkɑn(t)səˈkwɛnʃəlɪzəm/

noun

The ethical study of morals, duties and rights with an approach that focuses consequences of a particular action or cause.

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Meanings

nounconsequentialism (countable and uncountable, plural consequentialisms)

plural consequentialisms

  1. countableuncountableethicsThe ethical study of morals, duties and rights with an approach that focuses consequences of a particular action or cause.
  2. countableuncountableethicsThe belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment about an action. Thus, from a consequentialist standpoint, a morally right action is one that produces a good outcome, or consequence.

Synonyms & antonyms

Narrower
utilitarianism

Origin

From consequential + -ism, coined by British analytic philosopher G. E. M. Anscombe in 1958.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 結果主義 /结果主义
  • 結果主義 /结果主义belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Czech konsekvencialismus
  • konsekvencialismusbelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Finnish seurausetiikka
  • seurausetiikkabelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
French conséquentialisme
  • conséquentialismebelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
German Konsequentialismus
  • Konsequentialismusbelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Greek συνεπειοκρατία
  • συνεπειοκρατία (synepeiokratía)belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Hindi परिणामवाद
  • परिणामवाद (pariṇāmvād)belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Hungarian konzekvencializmus, konszekvencializmus
  • konzekvencializmusbelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
  • konszekvencializmusbelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
  • következményetikabelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Icelandic leikslokasiðfræði
  • leikslokasiðfræðibelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Italian consequenzialismo
  • consequenzialismobelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Japanese 帰結主義
  • 帰結主義belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Polish konsekwencjalizm
  • konsekwencjalizmbelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Portuguese consequencialismo
  • consequencialismobelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Russian консеквенциали́зм
  • консеквенциали́зм (konsekvencialízm)belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Spanish consecuencialismo
  • consecuencialismobelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Turkish sonuççuluk
  • sonuççulukbelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Ukrainian консеквенціалізм
  • консеквенціалізм (konsekvencializm)belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Vietnamese hệ quả luận
  • hệ quả luậnbelief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment
Cite this entry
APA

consequentialism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/consequentialism

MLA

“consequentialism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/consequentialism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “consequentialism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/consequentialism.

Source: consequentialism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.