instrumental purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "instrumental purpose" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is used to refer to a purpose that is used to achieve a goal. For example, "He chose to take the job as an instrumental purpose of getting closer to his goal of becoming a successful business man."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

There's nothing wrong with that, but it meant that he denigrated anything that didn't lead to his instrumental purpose.

Princeton University

Although our plucky star spends much of her onscreen time undressed (not so her male partners), the film differs from pornography in one crucial respect: It doesn't seem to have been created for the usual instrumental purpose.

The New York Times

While not a bad thing in itself, this is a tack that will self-defeat in its instrumental purpose if enough students rush to the same lifeboats at once.

The Guardian - Opinion

Students like this must be truly bewildered when they enter almost any traditional college and they're taught by people for whom knowledge is valued for itself and not for any instrumental purpose.

Princeton University

Whenever there is a feminist backlash against any of it, it is always levelled at the performers themselves; Cyrus is accused of being a bad role model, giving girls this mechanistic view of their own sexuality, where it is something to be deployed for an instrumental purpose.

The Guardian - Music

The function of mall design, therefore, is to disguise the exchange relation between producer and consumer, which is always more to the former's benefit in capitalist society, and to present cognitively an integrated facade which facilitates this instrumental purpose by the stimulation of consumer fantasies.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

It has reinforced America's deep-seated notion that a college degree serves largely instrumental purposes.

The New York Times - Books

In several British colonies, for example, acclimatisation societies imported wild animals and plants, releasing them sometimes for instrumental purposes, sometimes for "moral" reasons.

The Guardian

This is all of a piece with our lazy acceptance of jargon, using words for merely instrumental purposes rather than for genuine expression.

The Guardian - Books

The findings revealed that both parents and their children value education for instrumental purposes and, while age and employment status made no difference to the parents' value of education, there was a statistically significant difference in value of education between parents with children attending different school types.

International Journal of Educational Development

Such voluntary associations are formed not merely for instrumental purposes, as contributions to our freedom, but are expressive of it.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instrumental purpose", ensure the context clearly indicates that the purpose serves as a tool or means to achieve a specific, often larger, objective. This clarifies that the purpose is not an end in itself.

Common error

Avoid using "instrumental purpose" to describe something valued for its own sake. The phrase implies a means to an end, not an inherent worth. Ensure your language accurately reflects whether the purpose is a tool or an end goal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instrumental purpose" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It identifies a specific type of purpose – one that is a means to achieve a further goal, as shown in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "instrumental purpose" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that denotes a goal serving as a means to achieve a larger objective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is employed across various domains, including news, science, and academia, as seen in Ludwig's examples. While the phrase carries a formal tone, remember to use it in contexts where the purpose clearly acts as a tool, differentiating it from something of intrinsic value. Alternatives such as "practical objective" or "useful aim" can provide nuanced variations, but the core concept remains consistent: a purpose with a practical, goal-oriented function.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Practical objective

Focuses on the practicality and goal-oriented aspect, shifting from 'instrumental' to 'practical'.

Useful aim

Replaces 'instrumental' with 'useful' to highlight the beneficial aspect of the purpose.

Functional goal

Emphasizes the functionality of the goal rather than the instrumental aspect.

Effective target

Highlights the effectiveness in achieving the intended target, differing slightly from the means-to-an-end concept.

Strategic objective

Suggests a planned and calculated aim, adding a layer of strategy.

Calculated intention

Underscores the deliberateness of the intention, implying a careful plan.

Expedient design

Focuses on the convenience and efficiency aspect of the design.

Serviceable intent

Highlights the intention's ability to serve a specific function.

Pragmatic reason

Emphasizes the practical and realistic nature of the reason.

Utilitarian motive

Focuses on the usefulness and benefit provided by the motive.

FAQs

What does "instrumental purpose" mean?

The phrase "instrumental purpose" refers to a goal or objective that is pursued as a means to achieve a further end. It implies that something is done not for its own sake but to bring about a desired outcome.

How can I use "instrumental purpose" in a sentence?

You can use "instrumental purpose" to describe situations where an action or decision is made to achieve a specific outcome. For example: "Education can have an "instrumental purpose" in securing better employment opportunities."

What are some alternatives to "instrumental purpose"?

Some alternatives include "practical objective", "useful aim", or "functional goal". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "instrumental purpose" the same as "intrinsic value"?

No, "instrumental purpose" is the opposite of intrinsic value. An instrumental purpose is a means to an end, while intrinsic value is something valued for its own sake, regardless of its usefulness in achieving other goals.