Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for utility on Thesaurus.com noun, plural u·til·i·ties. the state or quality of being useful; usefulness: This chemical has no utility as an agricultural fertilizer. something useful; a useful thing. a public service, as a telephone or electric-light system, a streetcar or railroad line, or the like. Compare public utility(def 1) . Often utilities. a useful or advantageous factor or feature: the relative utilities of a religious or a secular education. Economics the capacity of a commodity or a service to satisfy some human want. the principle and end of utilitarian ethics; well-being or happiness; that which is conducive to the happiness and well-being of the greatest number. Computers utility program . utilities, stocks or bonds of public utilities. a grade of beef immediately below commercial. Show More
(of domestic animals) raised or kept as a potentially profitable product rather than for show or as pets: utility breeds; utility livestock. having or made for a number of useful or practical purposes rather than a single, specialized one: a utility knife. designed chiefly for use or service rather than beauty, high quality, or the like: a utility vehicle; utility furniture. Show More
Origin of utility 1350–1400; Middle English utilite <
Old French utelite <
Latin ūtilitās, equivalent to
ūtil(is ) useful (see
utile ) +
-itās -ity Related forms non·u·til·i·ty , noun, plural non·u·til·i·ties. Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for utilities service ,
point ,
expediency ,
usefulness ,
applicability ,
use ,
advantage ,
profit ,
benefit ,
adequacy ,
avail ,
favor ,
relevance ,
function ,
efficacy ,
productiveness ,
efficiency ,
account ,
practicality ,
convenience Examples from the Web for utilities Contemporary Examples of utilities The popularity of solar leasing is inspiring moves like this by utilities .
Utilities and real estate developers would start making home-charging stations standard rather than expensive extras.
In California, for example, the utilities earn profits even as people and businesses use less energy.
For the first time, utilities nationwide will have a financial incentive to decrease electricity usage.
And in 43 states, utilities are required to buy the power that a rooftop system produces but does not use.
Historical Examples of utilities She is ballasted with utilities ; not altogether with unusable pig-lead and kentledge.
To compare these advantages with the virtues and utilities would be foolish.
It was with this world that the practical affairs and utilities of men were connected.
Teach her all the accomplishments, but none of the utilities of life.
The tendency has been to limit all the utilities of a railroad to transportation.
British Dictionary definitions for utilities the quality of practical use; usefulness; serviceability (as modifier ) a utility fabric something useful a public service, such as the bus system; public utility (as modifier ) utility vehicle economics the ability of a commodity to satisfy human wants the amount of such satisfaction See disutility statistics a measure of the total benefit or disadvantage attaching to each of a set of alternative courses of action (as modifier ) utility function See also expected utility , decision theory Also called: utility truck , (informal) ute Australian and NZ a small truck with an open body and low sides, often with a removable tarpaulin cover; pick-up a piece of computer software designed for a routine task, such as examining or copying files Show More
Word Origin for utility C14: from Old French utelite , from Latin ūtilitās usefulness, from ūtī to use
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for utilities n. late 14c., "fact of being useful," from Old French utilite "usefulness" (late 13c.), earlier utilitet (12c.), from Latin utilitatem (nominative utilitas ) "usefulness, serviceableness, profit," from utilis "usable," from uti (see use (v.)). As a shortened form of public utility it is recorded from 1930.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
