utility

noun utilities

1. countable, uncountable The state or condition of being useful; usefulness. "The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it."
2. countable, uncountable Something that is useful. 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. countable, uncountable The ability of a commodity to satisfy needs or wants; the satisfaction experienced by the consumer of that commodity.
4. countable, uncountable Well-being, satisfaction, pleasure, or happiness.
5. countable, uncountable A commodity or service provided on a continuous basis by a physical infrastructure network, such as electricity, water supply or sewerage. The complex includes the usual utilities (gas and electricity) and amenities like wifi and a gym (toilets with toiletries).

   Similar: service

6. broadly, countable, uncountable A natural or legal monopoly distributer of such a utility; or, the securities of such a provider.
7. countable, uncountable A software program other than a game; one that is useful or creative rather than merely entertaining. a graphics utility; a music utility
8. countable, uncountable 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
9. countable, uncountable The ability to play multiple positions.
10. Australia, New Zealand, countable, uncountable A coupé utility, or ute; an automobile with an open tray or bed behind the passenger cabin. 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.

Similar: utility, value, usefulness · Opposite: disutility, inutility

adjective

1. Having to do with, or owned by, a service provider. utility line; utility bill

   Similar: usefulness, value, advantages, benefit, return, merits, virtue, note

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. 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 G.W.R. carriages.