utility

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) The state or condition of being useful; usefulness.
2. (countable, uncountable) Something that is useful.
3. (countable, uncountable) The ability of a commodity to satisfy needs or wants; the satisfaction experienced by the consumer of that commodity.
4. (countable, uncountable) Well-being, satisfaction, pleasure, or happiness.
5. (countable, uncountable) A commodity or service provided on a continuous basis by a physical infrastructure network, such as electricity, water supply or sewerage.
6. (broadly, countable, uncountable) A natural or legal monopoly distributer of such a utility; or, the securities of such a provider.
7. (countable, uncountable) A software program other than a game; one that is useful or creative rather than merely entertaining.
8. (countable, uncountable) A software program designed to perform a single task or a small range of tasks, often to help manage and tune computer hardware, an operating system, or application software.
9. (countable, uncountable) The ability to play multiple positions.
10. (Australia, New-Zealand, countable, uncountable) A coupé utility, or ute; an automobile with an open tray or bed behind the passenger cabin.

Adj

1. Having to do with, or owned by, a service provider.
2. containing or intended for any of a building’s often-utility-related commodity transport, such as pipes or wires, or converting equipment, such as furnaces, water tanks or heaters, circuit breakers, central air conditioning units, laundry facilities, etc.
3. Functional rather than attractive.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/juːˈtɪl.ɪ.ti/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: utilite

In summary

From Middle English utilite, from Old French utilite, utilitet (“usefulness”), from Latin ūtilitās, from uti (“to use”). By surface analysis, utile + -ity.

Synonyms

usefulness

use

advantage

benefit

profit

avail

good

👍

utility program

public utility

practical use

gain

public-service corporation

service program

substitute

helpfulness

public utility company

profitableness

effect

worth

application

usableness

service

serviceableness

utility-grade

usable

useable

useful

value

versatility

wear

wearable

worthwhileness

usefullness

leisure occupation

effectiveness

electricity

water

🚰

public service corporation

utility service

account

adjustability

all-purpose

alternating

civil service

comfort

commodity

convenience

favour

feature

function

Translations

utilité

utilità

utilidad

Nützlichkeit

utilitaire

utilidade

Nutzen

użyteczność

fayda

utilitas

χρησιμότητα

utility

yarar

utilitat

ωφελιμότητα

Sentences

Suppose the agents have cardinal utility functions on items .