utility

[ yoo-til-i-tee ]

/ yuˈtɪl ɪ ti /

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.

adjective

(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.

Origin of utility

1350–1400; Middle English utilite < Old French utelite < Latin ūtilitās, equivalent to ūtil(is) useful (see utile) + -itās -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM utility

non·u·til·i·ty, noun, plural non·u·til·i·ties.

Words nearby utility

utile dulci, utilicare, utilidor, utilitarian, utilitarianism, utility, utility function, utility man, utility player, utility pole, utility program

British Dictionary definitions for non-utility

utility

/ (juːˈtɪlɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

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 satisfactionSee 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

Word Origin for utility

C14: from Old French utelite, from Latin ūtilitās usefulness, from ūtī to use

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

utility

noun, plural u·til·i·ties.

adjective

Origin of utility

OTHER WORDS FROM utility

Words nearby utility

British Dictionary definitions for non-utility

noun plural -ties

Word Origin for utility

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

utility

noun, plural u·til·i·ties.

adjective

Origin of utility

OTHER WORDS FROM utility

Words nearby utility

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for non-utility

noun plural -ties

Word Origin for utility

British Dictionary definitions for non-utility