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 utility 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 utility Contemporary Examples of utility In essence, he “invented” the idea of a utility company, which would power the light bulbs and other devices people might plug in.
According to the courts, the Internet is not considered a utility and therefore not subject to such regulations.
In 2010, in what it says was the first such effort by a U.S. utility , APS placed panels on 125 homes in Flagstaff—for no charge.
Much like Cosmo itself, the slideshow is pretty to look at but lacking in substance and utility .
So, the pair set about tapping into that world to find partners who might appreciate the utility of a dead, frozen kitten.
Historical Examples of utility After all their piety was aimless and of no utility to humanity.
This was the fashion of the day, though its utility , on the whole, may very well be questioned.
There is no doubt, replied Altamont, of its utility ; but how would you contrive to make it?
I do not ask for proofs of genius, I ask for solid proofs of utility .
These powerful objections were only met with excuses of convenience and utility .
British Dictionary definitions for utility 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 utility 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
