utility

utility — noun

1. one of the basic services like electricity, gas, or water that homes and busines

1.nounB1
Definition

one of the basic services like electricity, gas, or water that homes and businesses rely on every day.

Example

The storm damaged power lines, so the utility company sent workers to restore the electricity.

collocation: utility company / utility bill / utility service

Jin called the water utility to report a leak in the pipe outside his house.

Common collocations
  • utility company
  • utility bill
  • utility service
  • utility provider
  • power/water/gas utility
Synonyms
  • service

    broader term that includes non-essential services; utility specifically implies essential public services

  • amenity

    more formal and often refers to features that add comfort rather than essential supplies

Usage Note

Frequently used attributively before nouns like company, bill, service, or provider to specify which aspect of the service is being discussed.

Common Mistakes

The government built a new utility.
The government approved a new utility plant.
utility alone does not refer to the physical building or equipment; it refers to the service itself.

2. a business that provides a public service such as electricity, gas, or water to

2.nounB1
Definition

a business that provides a public service such as electricity, gas, or water to customers.

Example

Large utility companies often invest billions in maintaining power grids and pipelines.

collocation: utility companies

Walid works for a local utility that supplies drinking water to three nearby towns.

Common collocations
  • utility company
  • public utility
  • local utility
  • utility industry
Synonyms
  • public utility

    more formal term that legally defines a company serving the public interest under government regulation

  • service provider

    broader term that includes non-essential services such as internet or phone

Usage Note

This sense is often used in the plural (utilities) to refer to utility companies collectively, particularly in financial or regulatory contexts.

Common Mistakes

The utility repaired the road.
The utility company sent workers to repair the road.
the utility company is the organization; 'utility' alone can refer to either the service or the company depending on context.

3. how practical and helpful something is for achieving a particular goal.

3.nounB1
Definition

how practical and helpful something is for achieving a particular goal.

Example

Lakan questioned the utility of buying a tablet when his laptop already worked well.

question + the utility of + gerund

The utility of this small tool became clear when Andrei needed to fix his bicycle.

Common collocations
  • the utility of
  • great utility
  • limited utility
  • practical utility
Synonyms
  • usefulness

    less formal, preferred in everyday speech; utility is more common in formal or analytical writing

  • practicality

    emphasizes ease of use or suitability for real-world conditions rather than general usefulness

  • value

    broader term that can include emotional or financial worth, not just practical function

Antonyms
  • uselessness

    direct opposite; the state of having no practical purpose

Usage Note

Typically uncountable. Often preceded by an adjective (great, limited, little, practical) or the preposition 'of' (the utility of something). More formal than usefulness.

Common Mistakes

I need to check the utility of this phone.
I need to check how useful this phone is.
utility as 'usefulness' is abstract and formal; in everyday conversation, 'how useful' sounds more natural.

4. a computer program that performs a specific supporting task, such as compressing

4.nounB2
Definition

a computer program that performs a specific supporting task, such as compressing files, converting data, or scanning for viruses.

Example

Gabriel downloaded a free utility to convert video files into MP3 format.

download + a utility + to-infinitive purpose

This utility scans your computer for duplicate photos and helps you remove them.

Common collocations
  • disk utility
  • file utility
  • system utility
  • backup utility
  • utility program
Synonyms
  • tool

    broader term that can refer to any software or hardware used to accomplish a task

  • program

    any piece of software; utility specifies a supporting or maintenance role rather than a main application

  • app

    modern term for any application; utility emphasizes the practical supporting function

Usage Note

This sense takes modifiers specifying the tool's function: disk utility, file utility, backup utility, or system utility. Often countable (a utility, several utilities).

utility — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

Utility, usefulness, practicality, benefit, and value all describe how helpful something is, but they differ in scope and register. Usefulness is the everyday word for anything that helps achieve a goal: 'I doubt the usefulness of this old map.' Utility is more formal and often appears in analytical or technical writing, focusing on practical function rather than emotional worth: 'They questioned the utility of the new system.' Practicality emphasises real-world convenience and ease of use: 'She chose the bag for its practicality — it held everything she needed.' Benefit highlights a positive outcome or advantage for someone: 'The new policy brought real benefit to working parents.' Value can include financial, emotional, or practical worth: 'This painting has great sentimental value.' In everyday conversation, usefulness and benefit are the most natural choices. Utility fits well in academic or professional contexts where the focus is on measurable practical function.

usefulnesspracticalitybenefit ↗value ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • public utility
  • utility room

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin utilitas meaning 'usefulness, profit, advantage,' derived from uti 'to use, make use of, enjoy.' The word passed through Old French utilite before entering Middle English in the 14th century. The original sense of 'usefulness' (now noun/3) is the oldest. The sense of 'public service' (noun/1) emerged in the late 19th century with the rise of municipal water, gas, and electricity systems. The computing sense (noun/4) dates from the 1970s as software tools for system maintenance were developed alongside early operating systems.