func·tion·al·ist I. \-shənələ̇st, -shnəl-\noun (-s) : one who advocates or employs functionalism II. adjective orfunc·tion·al·is·tic\|fəŋ(k)shənəl|istik, -shnə|li-\ Etymology:functionalist from functionalist (I); functionalistic from functionalist (I) + -ic : of or relating to functionalism (as in architecture or sociology) < the functionalist theory of mind >