facility

[fuh-sil-i-tee]

noun

plural

facilities 

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.

facility

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• nonfacility noun
• overfacility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of facility¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of facility¹

C15: from Latin facilitās , from facilis easy; see _facile

Example Sentences

Specifically, Lawrence pointed to the issue of data center construction, which has become increasingly salient around the United States as artificial intelligence companies push to build power-hungry facilities to power their large language models.

Read more on Salon

There have been fears of an energy crisis in Ukraine this winter after sustained Russian attacks on its energy facilities, notably thermal power plants.

Read more on BBC

Sniffing around his metal cage, the cub – tagged Orange 2321 – had spent several months at a rehab facility after being found alone in a campground.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

UAE-based DP World has expressed interest in operating another facility, Chattogram's New Mooring Container Terminal, and port officials say contract negotiations continue.

Read more on Barron's

The VLT's FORS2 instrument, the only facility in the southern hemisphere able to make this type of measurement, revealed that the first burst of material resembled the shape of an olive.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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