Instrumentality Meaning
/ˌɪnstɹʊmɛnˈtælɪti/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe condition or quality of being instrumental; being useful; serving a purpose.
nounSomething that is instrumental; an instrument.
Sentence Examples
The problem about "the instrumentality of mankind" is being looked into by the committee.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The project was completed successfully through the ____ of a very dedicated team.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The diplomat used every available ____ to try and bring about a peaceful end to the violent conflict.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English instrumental Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English instrumentality From instrumental + -ity.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In a later vision the Saviour revealed to her in detail the 'great design' which he wished to establish through her instrumentality."
— 1902, William James, “Lectures XIV and XV: The Value of Saintliness”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 344:
"He spoke of the various instrumentalities which were now employed for the conversion of the world."
— 1838, American Anti-Slavery Society, The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 2 of 4:
"Delays and failures will only set her to casting about for new instrumentalities."
— 1873, Helen Hunt Jackson, Bits About Home Matters:
"God works by instrumentalities, and he has wonderfully thus far interposed in keeping evils that I feared in abeyance."
— 1914, Samuel F. B. Morse, Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals:
"Any work in which the copyright was ever owned or administered by the Alien Property Custodian and in which the restored copyright would be owned by a government or instrumentality thereof, is not a restored work."
— 1994, Title 17 of the United States Code, §104A(a)(2):
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The project was completed successfully through the ____ of a very dedicated team.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The diplomat used every available ____ to try and bring about a peaceful end to the violent conflict.