utilization

American  

[yoot-l-ahy-zey-shuhn] / ˌyut l aɪˈzeɪ ʃən /

especially British, utilisation

noun

1. an act or instance of making practical or profitable use of something.

   I don't think this plan results in the best utilization of tax dollars.

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Other Word Forms

• misutilization noun
• nonutilization noun
• overutilization noun
• preutilization noun
• reutilization noun

Etymology

Origin of utilization

First recorded in 1840–45; utiliz(e) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Explanation

Utilization is a fancy way of saying "use." A team's utilization of a gym for practices might need to continue until it stops raining. You can see the verb utilize in utilization. When you utilize something, you use it, whether it is a tool, like when you utilize a pen to write something down, or a skill or talent, like the speed you utilize when you run a race. So utilization is the act of using, like the utilization of your voice that enables you to sing a song.

Example Sentences

“We expect a progressive recovery in prepared foods, with volumes rebounding as capacity comes online and utilization improves, supported by steady underlying demand,” Miller said.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

The refining capacity utilization rate was 91.4%, up 0.6 percentage point from the previous week, in line with analyst estimates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

I believe my overall credit-card utilization is less than 10%.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Drivers are stable utilization due to its long-term charter portfolio and a young fleet of 36 vessels, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

PG&E was willing to put up extra money for research it might be able to exploit commercially, such as studies of “the utilization of electricity on the farm,” he wrote.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• application
• discharge
• employment
• usage