convenience
Americannoun
-
the quality of being convenient; suitability.
- Synonyms:
- availability, handiness, utility
-
anything that saves or simplifies work, adds to one's ease or comfort, etc., as an appliance, utensil, or the like.
-
a convenient situation or time.
at your convenience.
-
advantage or accommodation.
a shelter for the convenience of travelers.
-
Chiefly British. water closet.
adjective
noun
-
the state or quality of being suitable or opportune
the convenience of the hour
-
a convenient time or situation
-
at a time suitable to you
-
formal as soon as possible
-
usefulness, comfort, or facility
-
an object that is particularly useful, esp a labour-saving device
-
euphemistic a lavatory, esp a public one
-
to take advantage of; impose upon
Etymology
Origin of convenience
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin convenientia “harmony, agreement,” from convenient-, stem of conveniēns “coming together” ( see convenient) + -ia -ia
Explanation
Even though the real reason you want the newest phone is that it's incredibly cool looking, you might pretend that what interests you is its convenience, or how easy and useful it will be. The noun convenience is a quality of ease or accessibility. Just think of a convenience store, which is arranged to be easy to get in and out of, and sells things you might need to grab on your way home. Some things are referred to as a convenience if the whole reason for their existence is to make life easier in some way, like electricity, indoor plumbing, and microwaveable meals.
Vocabulary lists containing convenience
Trumps
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"Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising"
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A Single Shard
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The deal allows Las Vegas-based Terrible’s, owned by the Herbst family and perhaps most famous for a string of gas stations and convenience stores, to operate the properties.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Casey’s began as a general store in Boone, Iowa, in 1968, and has grown to become the third-largest convenience store operator in the U.S., with more than 2,900 stores.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
In July 2018, 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton took his young son into a Clearwater, Florida, convenience store to purchase snacks.
From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026
Dr Eleanor Barnett, a food historian at Cardiff University, said the survey results were about "convenience" for people and that takeaways had historically been a "social way of eating".
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
“Would you mind scouting around outside? Like, look for a wilderness convenience store or something?”
From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
