What does utility mean?
Utility is chiefly the quality of being useful or of providing practical benefit. In everyday contexts it often refers to the usefulness of a tool, design, or service: a plain kitchen may have greater utility than a decorative one. The term also names an organization supplying essential infrastructure, especially electricity, gas, water, or communications; such businesses are commonly called public utilities, and the word can sound formal or institutional when used this way. In economics and decision theory, utility means the value, satisfaction, or preference attached to a choice, as in marginal utility or a utility function. In computing, a utility is a small program or command designed to perform a practical maintenance or configuration task. As an adjective, chiefly in British English, utility describes something valued for practical rather than decorative purposes. Overall, utility combines usefulness with efficiency and service, ranging from a modest compliment for a well-designed object to a technical measure of value.
The quality of being useful or providing practical benefit; also an essential service or organization supplying such a service.
"The device was designed for utility rather than decoration."
The word is formal or technical when referring to economic value, decision theory, or public services, but it is also common in ordinary descriptions of practical usefulness.
Serving a practical purpose rather than a decorative or ornamental one; chiefly British.
"They converted the old pantry into a utility room."
This attributive use is especially common in British English, particularly in compounds such as utility room and utility kitchen.
The plural may refer collectively to public-service companies or to essential services such as electricity, gas, and water.
"Rising energy costs have put pressure on households and small businesses across many utilities."
Utility began in Latin as a question of usefulness; today it can name the company that keeps your lights on.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does utility come from?
Utility comes from Latin utilitas, a noun formed from utilis, meaning “useful” and related to uti, “to use.” It entered English through Old French utilité in the late Middle English period, initially meaning use, usefulness, or benefit. Its public-service sense developed later, while words such as utilize and utilitarian followed the same Latin utilis stem; utensil is a related word originating in the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How utility is actually used
The noun is standard in general, business, economic, and computing contexts. The adjective use, as in utility room or utility kitchen, is chiefly British but is also understood in North American English.
Easily confused with utility
Utility is the usefulness or practical benefit of something, whereas utilization is the act or process of putting something to use.
Utility is usefulness or an essential service; utilitarian describes something designed chiefly for practical purposes or expressing the doctrine that practical usefulness should take priority.