UTILITARIANISM

noun the doctrine that utility is the sole standard of morality, so that the rectitude of an action is determined by its usefulness.

2. utilitarianism ·noun the doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the end and aim of all social and political institutions.

3. utilitarianism ·noun the doctrine that virtue is founded in utility, or that virtue is defined and enforced by its tendency to promote the highest happiness of the universe.