util·i·ty
yü-ˈti-lə-tē 
plural utilities
1
: fitness for some purpose or worth to some end
2
: something useful or designed for use
3
a
b(1)
: a service (such as light, power, or water) provided by a public utility
(2)
: equipment or a piece of equipment to provide such service or a comparable service
4
: a program or routine designed to perform or facilitate especially routine operations (such as copying files or editing text) on a computer
1
: capable of serving as a substitute in various roles or positions
a utility infielder
2
a
: kept to provide a useful product or service rather than for show or as a pet
utility livestock
a utility dog
b
: being of a usable but inferior grade
utility beef
3
: serving primarily for utility rather than beauty : utilitarian
4
: designed or adapted for general use
a utility tool
5
: of or relating to a utility
a utility company
Synonyms
Examples of utility in a Sentence
Noun
a plan without much practical utility
Notify the utility if there's an outage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2024
Current utility bill Bank statement Government check Paycheck Birth certificate
What’s not allowed at the polls?
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for utility 
Noun
In places like Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, consumers' utility bills were up by more than 40% in March compared to the same month in 2019, according to the report.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2024
Current utility bill Bank statement Government check Paycheck Birth certificate
What’s not allowed at the polls?
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for utility
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'utility.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near utility
Cite this Entry
“Utility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utility. Accessed 6 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
utility
1 of 2 noun
util·i·ty
yü-ˈtil-ət-ē
plural utilities
1
: the quality or state of being useful : usefulness
2
: something useful or designed for use
3
a
b
: a public service (as power or water) provided by a public utility
4
: a program designed to perform or aid in especially routine actions (as copying files or editing text) on a computer
utility
2 of 2 adjective1
: capable of serving as a substitute in various roles or positions
utility infielder
2
: being of a usable but poor quality
utility beef
3
: serving chiefly for usefulness rather than beauty : utilitarian
4
: designed for general use
utility bag
Legal Definition
utility
noun
util·i·ty
plural utilities
1
: fitness for some purpose or worth to some end
2
a
b
: a service or commodity provided by a public utility
paid for rent and utilities
also
: equipment or material used in providing such a service or commodity
an easement limited to purposes of travel which does not include the right to install utilities —Ware v. Public Serv. Co., 412 A.2d 84 (1980)
Ware v. Public Serv. Co., 412 A.2d 84 (1980) 3
plural
: stocks or bonds of utility companies
utilities performed poorly
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