utility

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: futility

Antonyms: futility

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. The state or condition of being [[useful]]; [[usefulness]].
2. Something that is useful.
3. {{lb|en|economics}} The ability of a [[commodity]] to [[satisfy]] [[needs]] or [[wants]]; the [[satisfaction]] experienced by the [[consumer]] of that commodity.
4. {{lb|en|philosophy}} [[well-being|Well-being]], [[satisfaction]], [[pleasure]], or [[happiness]].
5. {{lb|en|business}} A [[commodity]] or [[service]] provided on a continuous basis by a physical infrastructure network, such as [[electricity]], [[water]] [[supply]] or [[sewerage]].
6. {{lb|en|business|finance|by extension}} A natural or legal monopoly [[distributer]] of such a utility; ''or'', the [[security|securities]] of such a provider.
7. {{lb|en|computing}} A software program other than a [[game]]; one that is [[useful]] or [[creative]] rather than merely [[entertaining]].
8. {{senseid|en|computer program for small set of tasks}} {{lb|en|computing}} 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]].
9. {{lb|en|sports}} The ability to play multiple positions.
10. {{lb|en|Australia|New Zealand}} A [[coupé utility]], or [[ute]]; an automobile with an open tray or bed behind the passenger cabin.

Adjective

1. Having to do with, or owned by, a service provider.
2. (Of a [[building]] or its components) containing or intended for any of a building’s often-utility-related commodity transport, such as pipes or wires, or converting equipment, such as [[furnace]]s, water tanks or heaters, [[circuit breaker]]s, central air conditioning units, [[laundry]] facilities, etc.
3. Functional rather than attractive.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.