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

The Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal facility, has become a focal point over anti-ICE sentiment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Detainees report prison-like conditions inside the California City facility and lack of access to medical care.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But when they arrested him, ICE cited the immigration order as their reasoning for quickly detaining him in a different Pennsylvania facility.

Read more on BBC

This facility oversees the entire national airspace system and essentially “controls” the controllers.

Read more on Salon

The suit said Bonta’s investigation included a statewide survey to verify whether recycling facilities accepted plastic bags for recycling, and only two claimed to accept the bags, but couldn’t confirm if they were actually recycled.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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