instrumentality

American  

[in-struh-men-tal-i-tee] / ˌɪn strə mɛnˈtæl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

instrumentalities

1. the quality or state of being instrumental.

2. the fact or function of serving some purpose.

3. a means or agency.

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Etymology

Origin of instrumentality

First recorded in 1645–55; instrumental + -ity

Example Sentences

This issue is more complicated than most, in large measure because the industry directly affected is already accustomed to being an instrumentality of the federal government.

From Washington Times • May 14, 2023

“They are a sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the filing said, adding the discovery order was “an extraordinary infringement on the sovereignty of a foreign state.”

From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2023

“There just never has been a criminal prosecution of a sovereign or its instrumentality anywhere,” she said, adding, “The world has been around for, like, 7,000 years, and no country has ever tried another country.”

From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2023

A listener neither strains to understand what’s being conveyed, nor feels defeated by overamplified instrumentality or inadequately interpreted lyrics.

From Washington Post • Jul. 29, 2022

This must be so, because thought is only an instrumentality by which we seek to ascertain the truth.

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 7 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Discussions by Ingersoll, Robert Green