pragmatist

plural pragmatists

1. One who acts in a practical or straightforward manner; one who is pragmatic; one who values practicality or pragmatism.

   A pragmatist would never plant such a messy tree, but I like its flowers.

2. One who acts in response to particular situations rather than upon abstract ideals; one who is willing to ignore their ideals to accomplish goals.

   I'm not a thief, I am a pragmatist. I need this bread to feed my family.

   1 more example

   We cannot trust him not to lie for his own gain: he's an opportunist and a pragmatist.

3. One who belongs to the philosophic school of pragmatism; one who holds that the meaning of beliefs is the actions they entail, and that the truth of those beliefs consists in the actions they entail, successfully leading a believer to their goals.

   [S]ome pragmatists (such as William James) took a more pantheist or pandeist approach by rejecting views of God as separate from the world.

   2007, John Lachs, Robert Talisse, American Philosophy: An Encyclopedia, page 310

4. governmentAn advocate of pragmatism.
5. uncommonhuman sciencesOne who studies pragmatics.

   Synonyms: pragmatician

comparative more pragmatist · superlative most pragmatist

1. governmentAdvocating pragmatism.

   Historians also suggest that Roosevelt was a pragmatist in foreign affairs, in that his policies were determined by practical consequences rather than by any philosophy.

   2013, John Wright, Access to History for the IB Diploma: The Second World War and the Americas, Hodder Education, →ISBN