I. yü-ˈti-lə-tē noun
( plural -ties )
Etymology: Middle English utilite, from Anglo-French utilité, from Latin utilitat, utilitas, from utilis useful, from uti to use
Date: 14th century
1. : fitness for some purpose or worth to some end
2. : something useful or designed for use
3.
a. : public utility
b.
(1) : a service (as light, power, or water) provided by a public utility
(2) : equipment or a piece of equipment to provide such service or a comparable service
4. : a program or routine designed to perform or facilitate especially routine operations (as copying files or editing text) on a computer
II. adjective
Date: 1851
1. : capable of serving as a substitute in various roles or positions
a utility infielder
2.
a. : kept to provide a useful product or service rather than for show or as a pet
utility livestock
a utility dog
b. : being of a usable but inferior grade
utility beef
3. : serving primarily for utility rather than beauty : utilitarian
4. : designed or adapted for general use
a utility tool
5. : of or relating to a utility
a utility company