disutility

American  

[dis-yoo-til-i-tee] / ˌdɪs yuˈtɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality of causing inconvenience, harm, distress, etc.

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disutility British  

/ ˌdɪsjuːˈtɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. economics Compare utility

   1. the shortcomings of a commodity or activity in satisfying human wants

   2. the degree to which a commodity or activity fails to satisfy human wants

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Etymology

Origin of disutility

First recorded in 1875–80; dis- ¹ + utility

Example Sentences

The authors use bland economic jargon to describe that quandary: “The disutility of work would have to be very high” to outweigh work’s financial benefits.

From New York Times • Jun. 1, 2018

The second classical postulate Keynes identified was that the "real wage is equal to the marginal disutility of labour".

From The Guardian • Jul. 21, 2010

His objection to a few minutes of additional work measures what we may call the specific disutility of labor; and men, whether they be primitive or civilized, are forever making such measurements.

From Essentials of Economic Theory As Applied to Modern Problems of Industry and Public Policy by Clark, John Bates

War-like emotions, he points out, may have been useful in an earlier civilization, but are now a total disutility.

From Human Traits and their Social Significance by Edman, Irwin

However, at the highest levels of productivity, labour again becomes a relative disutility.

From Definition & Reality in the General Theory of Political Economy by Colignatus, Thomas