utility

UK: /juːˈtɪləti/ US: /juˈtɪlɪti/ ,(yo̅o̅ til′i tē)

Inflections of 'utility' (n): npl: utilities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

u•til•i•ty /yuˈtɪlɪti/   n., pl. -ties. 

1. [uncountable] the state or quality of being useful;
   usefulness.
2. [countable] a public service, as that providing electricity or water.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

u•til•i•ty  (yo̅o̅ til′i tē), n., pl. -ties, adj. 
n. 

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 telephone or electric-light system, a streetcar or railroad line, or the like. Cf. 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. Business [Econ.] the capacity of a commodity or a service to satisfy some human want.
6. Philosophy the principle and end of utilitarian ethics;
   well-being or happiness;
   that which is conducive to the happiness and well-being of the greatest number.
7. Computing See utility program. 
8. Business utilities, stocks or bonds of public utilities.
9. Food a grade of beef immediately below commercial.

adj. 

10. (of domestic animals) raised or kept as a potentially profitable product rather than for show or as pets:
    utility breeds; utility livestock.
11. having or made for a number of useful or practical purposes rather than a single, specialized one:
    a utility knife.
12. designed chiefly for use or service rather than beauty, high quality, or the like:
    a utility vehicle; utility furniture.

• Latin ūtilitās, equivalent. to ūtil(is) useful (see utile) + -itās -ity
• Old French utelite
• Middle English utilite 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

utility / juːˈtɪlɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. the quality of practical use; usefulness; serviceability
2. (as modifier): a utility fabric
3. something useful
4. a public service, such as the bus system; public utility
5. (as modifier): utility vehicle
6. the ability of a commodity to satisfy human wants
7. the amount of such satisfaction
   See disutility
8. Also called: utility truck, (informal) ute a small truck with an open body and low sides, often with a removable tarpaulin cover; pick-up
9. a piece of computer software designed for a routine task, such as examining or copying files

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French utelite, from Latin ūtilitās usefulness, from ūtī to use