utility meaning and definition

UTILITY noun

Definition of utility (noun)

1. a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
   • synonyms: public utility, public utility company, public-service corporation
2. the quality of being of practical use
   • synonyms: usefulness
   • antonym: inutility
3. the service (electric power or water or transportation) provided by a public utility
   • "the cost of utilities never decreases"; "all the utilities were lost after the hurricane"
4. (economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice
5. (computer science) a program designed for general support of the processes of a computer
   • "a computer system provides utility programs to perform the tasks needed by most users"
   • synonyms: service program, utility program
6. a facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage disposal
   • "the price of the house included all utilities"

UTILITY adjective

Definition of utility (adjective)

1. used of beef; usable but inferior
   • synonyms: utility-grade
2. capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team
   • "a utility infielder"
   • synonyms: substitute