utility — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The state or condition of being useful; usefulness.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   "The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it."

2. Something that is useful.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Undoubtedly it can be said that the humble 0-6-0 has been the backbone for general service, or general utility on British railways right from their earliest days, and is likely to remain so.

3. The ability of a commodity to satisfy needs or wants; the satisfaction experienced by the consumer of that commodity.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

4. Well-being, satisfaction, pleasure, or happiness.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

5. A commodity or service provided on a continuous basis by a physical infrastructure network, such as electricity, water supply or sewerage.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   service

   Examples

   The complex includes the usual utilities (gas and electricity) and amenities like wifi and a gym (toilets with toiletries).

   Elsewhere, utility diversion works are still scheduled to continue, with work to move a gas main on Drummond Street set to begin in early 2025.

   More examples (1)

   The 'slab track' system negates the need to divert utilities such as gas pipes and telecoms cables by only digging down to a depth of 30cm.

6. A natural or legal monopoly distributer of such a utility; or, the securities of such a provider.

   Usage

   • broadly
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

7. A software program other than a game; one that is useful or creative rather than merely entertaining.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   a graphics utility; a music utility

8. A software program designed to perform a single task or a small range of tasks, often to help manage and tune computer hardware, an operating system, or application software.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Holonyms: app, application, program

   I've bought a new disk utility that can recover deleted files.

   More examples (1)

   The system includes an 8080 and a Z80 assembler, a Tektronix format downloader and other utilities.

9. The ability to play multiple positions.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

10. A coupé utility, or ute; an automobile with an open tray or bed behind the passenger cabin.

    Usage

    • Australia
    • New-Zealand
    • Countable
    • Uncountable

    Examples

    More examples (1)

    Tim Archer got into the utility and drove[.] The car was a 1946 Chevrolet, somewhat battered by four years of station use, a sturdy practical vehicle with a coupé front seat and an open truck body behind.

Adjective

1. Having to do with, or owned by, a service provider.

   Examples

   utility line; utility bill

2. containing or intended for any of a building’s often-utility-related commodity transport, such as pipes or wires, or converting equipment, such as furnaces, water tanks or heaters, circuit breakers, central air conditioning units, laundry facilities, etc.

   Examples

   utility room; utility corridor

3. Functional rather than attractive.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   "Chocolate and cream," the standard colours of G.W.R. rolling stock for 21 years, are now being replaced by an all-over utility coating of reddish-brown. This is the third time that a uniform brown has been adopted as the standard livery of G.W.R. carriages.

Adjective

1. used of beef; usable but inferior

   Synonyms

   utility-grade

2. capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team

   Synonyms

   substitute

   Examples

   a utility infielder

Noun

1. a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation

   Synonyms

   public utilitypublic utility companypublic-service corporation

   Broader terms

   service

2. the quality of being of practical use

   Synonyms

   usefulness

   Antonyms

   inutility

   Broader terms

   quality

3. the service (electric power or water or transportation) provided by a public utility

   Broader terms

   service

   Examples

   the cost of utilities never decreases

   all the utilities were lost after the hurricane

4. (economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice

   Broader terms

   system of measurementmetric

5. (computer science) a program designed for general support of the processes of a computer

   Synonyms

   utility programservice program

   Broader terms

   programprogrammecomputer programcomputer programme

   Examples

   a computer system provides utility programs to perform the tasks needed by most users

6. a facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage disposal

   Broader terms

   facilityinstallation

   Examples

   the price of the house included all utilities