Utility Meaning
/juːˈtɪlɪti/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state or condition of being useful; usefulness.
nounSomething that is useful.
Sentence Examples
This antique brazier no longer has any real utility.
Public utility charges will go up next April.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The high ____ of this multi-tool makes it especially popular among campers.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The manager discussed the ____ of the new tool and how it could help the team to finish the work today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English utilite, from Old French utilite, utilitet (“usefulness”), from Latin ūtilitās, from uti (“to use”). By surface analysis, utile + -ity.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it.""
— 1817 (date written), [Jane Austen], “III”, in Persuasion; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (please specify |volume=III or IV), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:
"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."
— 1945 November and December, H. C. Casserley, “Random Reflections on British Locomotive Types—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 320:
"Elsewhere, utility diversion works are still scheduled to continue, with work to move a gas main on Drummond Street set to begin in early 2025."
— 2025 February 19, Chris Howe, “Euston: a work in progress”, in RAIL, number 1029, page 46:
"The 'slab track' system negates the need to divert utilities such as gas pipes and telecoms cables by only digging down to a depth of 30cm."
— 2025 June 25, “Network News: Public trials of Coventry's Very Light Rail system”, in RAIL, number 1038, page 10:
"The system includes an 8080 and a Z80 assembler, a Tektronix format downloader and other utilities."
— 1982, InfoWorld, volume 4, number 10, page 35:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The high ____ of this multi-tool makes it especially popular among campers.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The manager discussed the ____ of the new tool and how it could help the team to finish the work today.