utility
UK: juːˈtɪlɪti | US: juːˈtɪləti
n. 1. The state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial.
n. 2. A public service (e.g., water, electricity) provided to the community.
n. 3. (Computing) A program or tool designed for a specific task.
utility = util<useful> + ity<noun suffix>
- util (from Latin utilis, meaning "useful")
- ity (noun-forming suffix indicating state or quality, from Latin -itas)
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin utilitas (usefulness), which stems from utilis (useful). The root uti means "to use," reflecting the word’s core idea of practical value. Over time, "utility" expanded from general usefulness to specialized meanings like public services and software tools, retaining its foundational link to functionality.
The utility of this app lies in its simplicity.
The city manages water and gas utilities efficiently.
Developers created a debugging utility for the software.
Solar panels increase the utility of renewable energy.
His research has little practical utility.