facility

American  

[fuh-sil-i-tee] / fəˈsɪl ɪ ti /

noun

facilities plural

1. Often facilities

   1. something designed, built, installed, etc., to serve a specific function affording a convenience or service.

      transportation facilities;

      educational facilities;

      a new research facility.

   2. something that permits the easier performance of an action, course of conduct, etc..

      to provide someone with every facility for accomplishing a task;

      to lack facilities for handling bulk mail.

2. readiness or ease due to skill, aptitude, or practice; dexterity.

   to compose with great facility.

3. ready compliance.

   Her facility in organizing and directing made her an excellent supervisor.

4. an easy-flowing manner.

   facility of style.

5. the quality of being easily or conveniently done or performed.

6. Informal. Often facilities a restroom, especially one for use by the public, as in a theater or restaurant.

7. freedom from difficulty, controversy, misunderstanding, etc..

   facility of understanding.

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facility British  

/ fəˈsɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. ease of action or performance; freedom from difficulty

2. ready skill or ease deriving from practice or familiarity

3. (often plural) the means or equipment facilitating the performance of an action

4. rare easy-going disposition

5. military an organization or building offering supporting capability

6. (usually plural) a euphemistic word for lavatory

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonfacility
  noun
• overfacility
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• facilities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of facility

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English facilite, from Middle French or directly from Latin facilitās; see facile, -ity

Explanation

Facility is a noun with several different meanings. Often, as in "storage facility," it's a place designed for a specific use, but it can also mean an effortlessness or ease with something. The new stadium is a great facility for showing off Olympic winter sports. At this level, all of the ice skaters show a facility that borders on magical. Likewise, the prison is a great facility for storing prisoners. Those prisoners showed a real facility for crime. Related to the French facile, which means "easy," a person who shows a facility for something makes it seem easy. This is cool, especially if that thing is difficult — or, as the French might say, difficile.

Example Sentences

When Washington wanted to build an Ebola facility for its citizens on Kenyan territory, President William Ruto said it would be "inhumane" to turn down the request.

From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026

Zoox said it plans to move the new robotaxi into large-scale production at its facility in Hayward, Calif., soon, and expects it will become available to riders later this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026

British Transport Police officers have recovered a "significant amount of passenger property" which has been sent to a East Midlands Railway storage facility.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Lineage has received citations in connection with the Boyle Heights facility that is now burning.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

Shirley looks through my paintings of the rendering sails, the discharge facility, Heather’s Bucket of Broth, my house in all seasons.

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• accommodation
• amenity
• equipment
• material
• resource
• tool