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

Utilization of U.S. industrial capacity increased to 76.2%, from 75.7% in December.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

The National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey, which tracks the country’s blood supply, indicates that in 2023, roughly 11 million units of blood were collected, while 10.3 million were used.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2025

Their findings were published online on 17 April 2024 in Volume 82 of the Journal of CO2 Utilization.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2024

Mims is leaving the FAA to head up the Transportation Department's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

From Reuters • Jun. 8, 2023

The school’s wet mill is part of something called the Center for Crops Utilization Research.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Related Words

• application
• discharge
• employment
• usage