utility

1. 1

   The state or condition of being useful; usefulness.countableuncountable

   • "The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it."
2. 2

   Something that is useful.countableuncountable

   • 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. 3

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

4. 4

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

5. 5

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

   • The complex includes the usual utilities (gas and electricity) and amenities like wifi and a gym (toilets with toiletries).
6. 6

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

7. 7

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

   • a graphics utility; a music utility
8. 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.countableuncountable

   • Holonyms: app, application, program
   • I've bought a new disk utility that can recover deleted files.
9. 9

   The ability to play multiple positions.countableuncountable

10. 10

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

    • 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.

syn. utility · value · usefulness

ant. disutility · inutility

1. 1

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

   • utility line; utility bill
2. 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.

   • utility room; utility corridor
3. 3

   Functional rather than attractive.

   • "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