utility
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 system to provide water or electricity, a railroad line, a cell tower network, 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 the ethical doctrine of utilitarianism; well-being or happiness; that which is conducive to the happiness and well-being of the greatest number.
Computers.
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.
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.
utilities, stocks or bonds of public utilities.
a grade of beef immediately below commercial.
(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
1Other words from utility
- non·u·til·i·ty, noun, plural non·u·til·i·ties.
Words Nearby utility
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use utility in a sentence
The restaurant, which, according to the post, is only bringing in about 10 percent of the revenue it did before the pandemic, still has rent, payroll, and utilities to cover.
Is the Government Just Going to Watch the Restaurant Industry Die? | Elazar Sontag | August 28, 2020 | EaterScores of utilities announced their own voluntary moratoriums.
Bans on electricity shutoffs for 76 million Americans are being lifted | Michael J. Coren | August 27, 2020 | QuartzThe utility giant announced that two of its employees lost their jobs over allegations they had taken bribes from the company, known as Bay Area Concrete Recycling.
The Mystery House: How a Suspicious Multimillion Dollar Real Estate Deal Is Connected to California’s Deadliest Fire | by Scott Morris, Bay City News Foundation | August 26, 2020 | ProPublicaThey also advise passing on REITs, telecom, and multi-utilities.
12 value stocks to buy right now—and 3 to avoid—according to Bank of America | Anne Sraders | August 25, 2020 | FortuneIn getting the patent, Cansino had to demonstrate that its candidate qualifies as an invention, meaning that it was able to show a new “inventive step” and “utility,” says Mercurio.
China just issued its first COVID vaccine patent. What it means for the vaccine race | Grady McGregor | August 18, 2020 | Fortune
But those weapons are of limited utility, especially during close-in fights.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019 | Dave Majumdar | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn essence, he “invented” the idea of a utility company, which would power the light bulbs and other devices people might plug in.
According to the courts, the Internet is not considered a utility and therefore not subject to such regulations.
Porn Fights For Your Right to Surf: Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube Lead Charge For Net Neutrality | Aurora Snow | September 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 2010, in what it says was the first such effort by a U.S. utility, APS placed panels on 125 homes in Flagstaff—for no charge.
Much like Cosmo itself, the slideshow is pretty to look at but lacking in substance and utility.
I Tried Cosmo’s Lesbian Sex Tips and They Were Terrible | Samantha Allen | July 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTo place wit above sense is to place superfluity above utility.
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. BallouThese Eskimos were very fond of kite-flying, for its own sake, without reference to utility!
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneThey have well established their utility in different parts of the kingdom, and any number would sell.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickIt will therefore prove an investigation of greater utility to the public than anything yet introduced.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickThere is no wood of any size to be procured among the islands, which is a great drawback upon its utility as a port.
British Dictionary definitions for utility
/ (juːˈtɪlɪtɪ) /
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 satisfaction: See 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
Origin of utility
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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