Utility: meaning, definitions and examples

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utility

 

[ juːˈtɪlɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

usefulness

The state, quality, or fact of being useful; something useful or designed for use.

Synonyms

functionality, practicality, usefulness

Examples of usage

  • The new tool has great utility for home repairs.
  • The utility of the internet in our daily lives is undeniable.
Context #2 | Noun

company providing essential services

A public utility or service such as electricity, water, or public transportation, provided by a company.

Synonyms

company, provider, service provider

Examples of usage

  • The local utility company is responsible for maintaining the power grid.
  • We need to contact the utility to fix the water leak.
Context #3 | Noun

computer science

A software program designed to perform a specific task, usually related to system maintenance or optimization.

Synonyms

program, software, tool

Examples of usage

  • The antivirus utility scans the computer for malware.
  • This utility helps in cleaning up unnecessary files.

Translations

Translations of the word "utility" in other languages:

🇵🇹 utilidade

🇮🇳 उपयोगिता

🇩🇪 Nützlichkeit

🇮🇩 kegunaan

🇺🇦 корисність

🇵🇱 użyteczność

🇯🇵 有用性

🇫🇷 utilité

🇪🇸 utilidad

🇹🇷 kullanışlılık

🇰🇷 유용성

🇸🇦 فائدة

🇨🇿 užitečnost

🇸🇰 užitočnosť

🇨🇳 效用

🇸🇮 uporabnost

🇮🇸 nytsemi

🇰🇿 пайдалылық

🇬🇪 სარგებელი

🇦🇿 yararlılıq

🇲🇽 utilidad

Etymology

The word 'utility' originated in the late Middle English period from Old French 'utilite' and Latin 'utilitas', from 'utilis' meaning 'useful'. The concept of utility has been an essential part of human civilization, from the practical usefulness of tools to the provision of essential services. In modern times, utility has expanded to encompass various aspects of daily life, including technology, services, and efficiency.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,593, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.