The word 'utilitarian' literally means 'use-based'. A utilitarian approach to doing things means purely practical approach,concerned only with functional elements of the situation or subject.In common usage,utilitarian can either be a positive or a negative qualifier to a description. It may mean solely concerned with practical issues to the exclusion of moral or ethical issues, or it may refer depending on context into a positive value in a confusing situation in which external issues are creating problems.