utility

[ yoo-til-i-tee ]

noun

, plural u·til·i·ties.

1. the state or quality of being useful; usefulness:

   This chemical has no utility as an agricultural fertilizer.

2. something useful; a useful thing.
3. a public service, as a system to provide water or electricity, a railroad line, a cell tower network, or the like. Compare public utility ( def 1 ).
4. Often utilities. a useful or advantageous factor or feature:

   the relative utilities of a religious or a secular education.

5. Economics. the capacity of a commodity or a service to satisfy some human want.
6. the principle and end of the ethical doctrine of utilitarianism; well-being or happiness; that which is conducive to the happiness and well-being of the greatest number.
7. Computers.
   1. Also called u·til·i·ty pro·gram. a piece of software used to perform standard operations involved in managing and maintaining the system itself, such as backing up data, copying data from one drive to another, restoring corrupted files, etc.:

      The suite includes a minimal set of utilities, including an encryption wizard for encrypting and decrypting personal files.

   2. an app for a smartphone, such as a calculator, compass, etc., performing one simple function used in the course of carrying out some other activity:

      The measuring app and other utilities are all accessed in one place on your phone screen.

8. utilities, stocks or bonds of public utilities.
9. a grade of beef immediately below commercial.

adjective

1. (of domestic animals) raised or kept as a potentially profitable product rather than for show or as pets: utility livestock.

   utility breeds;

   utility livestock.

2. having or made for a number of useful or practical purposes rather than a single, specialized one:

   a utility knife.

3. designed chiefly for use or service rather than beauty, high quality, or the like: utility furniture.

   a utility vehicle;

   utility furniture.

utility

/ juːˈtɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. 1. the quality of practical use; usefulness; serviceability
   2. ( as modifier )

      a utility fabric

2. something useful
3. 1. a public service, such as the bus system; public utility
   2. ( as modifier )

      utility vehicle

4. economics
   1. the ability of a commodity to satisfy human wants
   2. the amount of such satisfaction See disutility
5. statistics
   1. a measure of the total benefit or disadvantage attaching to each of a set of alternative courses of action
   2. ( as modifier ) See also expected utility decision theory

      utility function

6. Also calledutility truckinformalute a small truck with an open body and low sides, often with a removable tarpaulin cover; pick-up
7. a piece of computer software designed for a routine task, such as examining or copying files

Other Words From

• non·u·til·i·ty noun plural nonutilities

Word History and Origins

Origin of utility¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English utilite, from Old French utilite, utelite, from Latin ūtilitāt-, stem of ūtilitās, equivalent to ūtil(is) “useful” + -itās noun suffix; utile, -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of utility¹

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

Example Sentences

Known for its sleek electric adventure vehicles, Rivian’s pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles stand out on the road.

From Los Angeles Times

I honestly cannot tell you what exactly was my justification for maintaining a Twitter/X presence, even as I explored other social media outfits and publicly acknowledged that Musk’s regime was repelling masses of tweeters, boosting easily debunkable disinformation, shedding all of X’s remaining utility for journalists, bullying transgender users, spreading straight-up white-supremacist rhetoric, and influencing CEOs in every other field to become as domineering and unapologetic as Musk is, whatever the backlash.

From Slate

He said he hasn’t had power since Wednesday where he lives in Moorpark because power was shut off by his utility service amid strong wind gusts.

From Los Angeles Times

More than 65,000 utility customers across the Southland had power cut as of Wednesday afternoon “due to heightened wildfire risk,” according to the utility.

From Los Angeles Times

As extreme wind events increase the threat of wildfires, the utility is conducting “Public Safety Power Shutoffs.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• service