utility
utility Lexical Profile
utility Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An essential public service, such as electricity, natural gas, water, or sewage, or the company that provides it.
"Monthly rent for the apartment is quite reasonable, though tenants must pay separately for all utilities."
The state or quality of being useful, profitable, or beneficial.
"The researchers demonstrated the practical utility of the new diagnostic method in clinical trials."
A specialized software program designed to perform routine maintenance, file management, or optimization tasks on a computer system.
"She ran a disk cleanup utility to free up storage space on her laptop."
In economics, the total satisfaction or value received from consuming a good or service.
"According to classical economic theory, rational consumers seek to maximize their overall utility within budget constraints."
• adjective
Designed primarily for practical, functional use rather than for decoration or luxury; capable of having several different uses.
"They stored the gardening equipment and spare tools in the small utility room behind the kitchen."
• Rhymes for utility
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French 'utilite', which derives from Latin 'utilitas' ('usefulness, profit'), from 'utilis' ('useful') and the verb 'uti' ('to use, make use of').