Belief in the utility of higher education is shared by students nationwide. [+ of]
He inwardly questioned the utility of his work. [+ of]
Synonyms: usefulness, use, point, benefit More Synonyms of utility
2. countable noun
A utility is an important service such as water, electricity, or gas that is provided for everyone, and that everyone pays for.
...public utilities such as gas, electricity and phones.
utility in British English
(juːˈtɪlɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
a.
the quality of practical use; usefulness; serviceability
b.
(as modifier)
a utility fabric
2.
something useful
3.
a.
a public service, such as the bus system; public utility
b.
(as modifier)
utility vehicle
4. economics
a.
the ability of a commodity to satisfy human wants
b.
the amount of such satisfaction
disutility
5. statistics
a.
a measure of the total benefit or disadvantage attaching to each of a set of alternative courses of action
b.
(as modifier)
utility function
See also expected utility, decision theory
6. Also called: utility truck or (informal) ute Australian and New Zealand
a small truck with an open body and low sides, often with a removable tarpaulin cover; pick-up
7.
a piece of computer software designed for a routine task, such as examining or copying files
Word origin
C14: from Old French utelite, from Latin ūtilitās usefulness, from ūtī to use
utility in American English
(juˈtɪləti)
nounWord forms: pluraluˈtilities
1.
the quality or property of being useful; usefulness
2.
something useful
3.
a.
something useful to the public, esp. the service of electric power, gas, water, telephone, etc.
b.
a company or government agency providing such a service
c. [pl.]
shares of stock in such a company
4. Economics
the power to satisfy the needs or wants of humanity
adjective
5.
serving or designed for practical use with little or no attention to beauty
6.
useful or used in a number of ways
7. US
designating an auxiliary player who is able to substitute at any of several positions on a baseball team
a utility infielder
8.
designating or of an inferior, usually dark, coarse grade of meat, lacking fat
Word origin
ME utilite < OFr utilité < L utilitas < utilis, utile
Examples of 'utility' in a sentence
utility
Gas and electricity are essential utilities and they should be taken back into public ownership.
The Sun (2016)
The sport utility vehicle is a staple of modern motoring, and few car companies do without at least one in their range.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Only a truly addictive service, a utility, could command such power.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Do note that you use this utility at your own risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This makes it the most popular breed in the utility group of dogs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The giant gas utility enjoys a legally sanctioned monopoly on gas exports.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He has to accept that he is a very good utility player.
The Sun (2013)
All our bills have gone up after extra taxes and rises in electricity and other utility prices.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Do not confuse marginal and total utility.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
But it is still running a public utility.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Banks and utility companies use available data to check whether people are being honest about their circumstances.
The Sun (2010)
Other utility groups have launched similar processes to find new partners with whom to share building costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But like many a utility player could his versatility also be seen as a curse?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But they are unacceptable from public utilities who are making a mint from supplying homes and firms with power.
The Sun (2012)
The total utility you receive from consuming five sandwiches is higher and will continue to increase as you consume more sandwiches.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
The German utilities said they could not justify the upfront costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The company is to launch a sports utility vehicle costing 90,000.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A red sports utility vehicle was then allegedly stolen.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
On the other hand one of the main features of the last two chapters has been the emphasis on the practical utility of scientific knowledge.
Yearley, Steven Science, Technology, and Social Change (1988)
Consumers are being denied the benefits of a sudden collapse in the price of natural gas that is bringing a profits surge to gas utilities.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
What happens is that managers may overtly reject it because of a lack of understanding of the technique or because of its lack of practical utility.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
At peak traffic, it seems like a million vans and sports utility vehicles are entering our campus at the same time.
Christianity Today (2000)
Its clients include oil and gas groups, exploration and production companies, energy services companies and utilities.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Time will also have to be spent on setting up your utilities, from sending meter readings to your new energy provider to choosing a broadband supplier.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Also shop around for car insurance, home insurance, all your other utilities and services such as broadband.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Energy companies face the threat of a full-scale investigation for allegedly rigging gas prices used to set consumers' utility bills.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's like a marriage between a rugged sport utility and a sporty coupé, but with lots of space and practicality.
The Sun (2008)
All related terms of 'utility'
utility man
a worker who is expected to serve in any of several capacities
sport utility
a high-powered vehicle with four-wheel drive, originally designed for off-road use
utility bill
A bill is a written statement of money that you owe for goods or services.
utility pole
one of a series of large, upright poles used to support telephone wires, electric cables , or the like
utility room
A utility room is a room in a house which is usually connected to the kitchen and which contains things such as a washing machine , sink , and cleaning equipment.
utility truck
→ pickup
utility wear
casual clothing that was originally intended for a particular activity, such as snowboarding or skiing
public utility
Public utilities are services provided by the government or state, such as the supply of electricity and gas , or the train network .
sports utility
a high-powered vehicle with four-wheel drive , originally designed for off-road use
utility company
a company which supplies utilities , such as gas , electricity , phones , etc
utility player
a player who is capable of playing competently in any of several positions
utility program
a program for carrying out routine tasks , such as examining or copying files
utility vehicle
A utility vehicle is a vehicle that is designed to travel over rough ground .
expected utility
the weighted average utility of the possible outcomes of a probabilistic situation; the sum or integral of the product of the probability distribution and the utility function
marginal utility
the extra utility or satisfaction derived by a consumer from the consumption of the last unit of a commodity
utility function
a function relating specific goods and services in an economy to individual preferences
utility software
system software that manages and optimizes the performance of hardware
sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a powerful vehicle with four-wheel drive that can be driven over rough ground . The abbreviation → SUV is often used.
crossover utility vehicle
a high-powered car with four-wheel drive, originally designed for off-road use
CUV
crossover utility vehicle
utilities
the quality of practical use; usefulness; serviceability
Chinese translation of 'utility'
utility
(juːˈtɪlɪtɪ)
n
(c) (also public utility) 公共设(設)施 (gōnggòng shèshī)
(u) (frm, = usefulness) 效用 (xiàoyòng)
Nearby words of
utility
usual
usually
utensil
utility
utility room
utilize
utmost
Related terms of
utility
utility room
SUV
(noun)
Definition
usefulness
He inwardly questioned the utility of his work.
Synonyms
usefulness
His interest lay in the usefulness of his work.
use
There's no use you asking me any more questions about that.
point
What's the point of all these questions?
benefit
I'm a great believer in the benefits of this form of therapy.
service
We were delighted to be of service.
profit
They saw little profit in risking their lives to capture the militants.
fitness
convenience
the convenience of mobile phones
mileage (informal)
avail
His efforts were to no avail.
practicality
the practicality of the suggestion
efficacy
Recent medical studies confirm the efficacy of a healthier lifestyle.
advantageousness
serviceableness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of avail
Definition
use or advantage
His efforts were to no avail.
Synonyms
benefit,
use,
help,
good,
service,
aid,
profit,
advantage,
purpose,
assistance,
utility,
effectiveness,
mileage (informal),
usefulness,
efficacy,
boot (obsolete)
in the sense of benefit
Definition
a payment made by an institution or government to a person who is ill, unemployed, etc.
I'm a great believer in the benefits of this form of therapy.
Synonyms
good,
use,
help,
profit,
gain,
advantage,
favour,
reward,
utility,
merit,
boon,
mileage (informal),
avail
in the sense of convenience
Definition
the quality of being suitable or convenient
the convenience of mobile phones
Synonyms
usefulness,
utility,
serviceability,
handiness
Synonyms of 'utility'
utility
Explore 'utility' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of efficacy
Recent medical studies confirm the efficacy of a healthier lifestyle.
Synonyms
effectiveness,
efficiency,
power,
value,
success,
strength,
virtue,
vigour,
use,
usefulness,
potency,
fruitfulness,
productiveness,
efficaciousness
in the sense of point
Definition
a reason or aim
What's the point of all these questions?
Synonyms
purpose,
aim,
object,
use,
end,
reason,
goal,
design,
intention,
objective,
utility,
intent,
motive,
usefulness
in the sense of practicality
the practicality of the suggestion
Synonyms
feasibility,
value,
use,
possibility,
utility,
viability,
usefulness,
practicability,
workability
in the sense of profit
Definition
a benefit or advantage
They saw little profit in risking their lives to capture the militants.
Synonyms
benefit,
good,
use,
interest,
value,
gain,
advantage,
advancement,
mileage (informal),
avail
in the sense of service
We were delighted to be of service.
Synonyms
use,
benefit,
advantage,
utility,
avail,
usefulness
in the sense of use
Definition
usefulness or advantage
There's no use you asking me any more questions about that.