1. belief in function over form: belief that the intended function of something should determine its design, construction, and choice of materials, or a 20th-century design movement based on this belief
2. philosophy philosophy emphasizing practical: a philosophy or system that gives practical and utilitarian concerns priority over aesthetic concerns
3. social sciences assessment of social institutions by role: the analysis and explanation of social institutions according to the function they perform in society, e.g. the family seen as an institution for social stability and cohesion
