facility

[ fuh-sil-i-tee ]

noun

, plural fa·cil·i·ties.

1. Often facilities.
   1. something designed, built, installed, etc., to serve a specific function affording a convenience or service:

      transportation facilities;

      educational facilities;

      a new research facility.

   2. something that permits the easier performance of an action, course of conduct, etc.:

      to provide someone with every facility for accomplishing a task;

      to lack facilities for handling bulk mail.

2. readiness or ease due to skill, aptitude, or practice; dexterity:

   to compose with great facility.

3. ready compliance:

   Her facility in organizing and directing made her an excellent supervisor.

4. an easy-flowing manner:

   facility of style.

5. the quality of being easily or conveniently done or performed.
6. Often facilities. Informal. a restroom, especially one for use by the public, as in a theater or restaurant.
7. freedom from difficulty, controversy, misunderstanding, etc.:

   facility of understanding.

facility

/ fəˈsɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. ease of action or performance; freedom from difficulty
2. ready skill or ease deriving from practice or familiarity
3. often plural the means or equipment facilitating the performance of an action
4. rare.
   easy-going disposition
5. military an organization or building offering supporting capability
6. usually plural a euphemistic word for lavatory

Other Words From

• non·fa·cil·i·ty noun plural nonfacilities
• o·ver·fa·cil·i·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of facility¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English facilite, from Middle French or directly from Latin facilitās; facile, -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of facility¹

C15: from Latin facilitās , from facilis easy; see facile

Example Sentences

The work stoppage, which affects service and patient care workers at all UC campuses and medical facilities, will continue until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

The storage and processing facilities required for the tritium can also be made much smaller and more efficient.

From Science Daily

Therefore, they changed into old new towns and had to transform their facilities.

From Science Daily

It builds gearboxes in Halewood and is in the final stages of creating a major new facility for producing motors for electric vehicles on the site.

From BBC

They said their client did not accept that the school lacked basic resources for teaching and the facilities were continually being developed.

From BBC

Related Words

• accommodation
• amenity
• equipment
• material
• resource
• tool