utility

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English utilite, from Old French utilite, utilitet (“usefulness”), from Latin ūtilitās, from uti (“to use”). By surface analysis, utile +‎ -ity. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /juːˈtɪl.ɪ.ti/, /jəˈtɪl.ɪ.ti/ (General American) IPA(key): /juˈtɪl.ə.ti/, [juˈtɪl.ə.ɾi] (Indic) IPA(key): /jʊʈɪˈlɪʈi/, /ˈjuʈɪlɪʈi/ Rhymes: -ɪlɪti === Noun === utility (countable and uncountable, plural utilities) The state or condition of being useful; usefulness. Something that is useful. (economics) The ability of a commodity to satisfy needs or wants; the satisfaction experienced by the consumer of that commodity. (philosophy) Well-being, satisfaction, pleasure, or happiness. (business) A commodity or service provided on a continuous basis by a physical infrastructure network, such as electricity, water supply or sewerage. Synonym: service (business, finance, by extension) A natural or legal monopoly distributer of such a utility; or, the securities of such a provider. (computing) A software program other than a game; one that is useful or creative rather than merely entertaining. (computing) 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. Holonyms: app, application, program Coordinate terms: applet, worklet; trustlet (sports) The ability to play multiple positions. (Australia, New Zealand) A coupé utility, or ute; an automobile with an open tray or bed behind the passenger cabin. ==== Antonyms ==== disutility inutility ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === utility Having to do with, or owned by, a service provider. utility line; utility bill (Of a building or its components) 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. utility room; utility corridor Functional rather than attractive. ==== Synonyms ==== (state of being useful): usefulness, value, advantages, benefit, return, merits, virtue, note See also Thesaurus:utility === References === “utility”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022. == Spanish == === Noun === utility m (plural utilitys) (sports) utility