instrumentality

American  

[in-struh-men-tal-i-tee] / ˌɪn strə mɛnˈtæl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

instrumentalities

1. the quality or state of being instrumental.

2. the fact or function of serving some purpose.

3. a means or agency.

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Etymology

Origin of instrumentality

First recorded in 1645–55; instrumental + -ity

Example Sentences

Defense attorneys said the charge was improper because their clients weren’t trying to capture Arbery for ransom or some other benefit, and the trucks weren’t used as an “instrumentality of interstate commerce.”

From Seattle Times

In his ruling, Stein wrote that affidavits supporting requests for search warrants only needed to establish probable cause that searches would turn up “evidence, fruits, or instrumentalities of a crime.”

From Seattle Times

This issue is more complicated than most, in large measure because the industry directly affected is already accustomed to being an instrumentality of the federal government.

From Washington Times

“They are a sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the filing said, adding the discovery order was “an extraordinary infringement on the sovereignty of a foreign state.”

From Seattle Times

The court “must determine whether a bank robber can transform an unwilling bank into his agency or instrumentality,” she wrote.

From New York Times