/ juːˈtɪləti; NAmE / noun , adjective
■ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] ( especially NAmE ) a service provided for the public, for example an electricity, water or gas supply :
the administration of public utilities
2.
[ U ] ( formal ) the quality of being useful
SYN usefulness
3.
[ C ] ( computing ) a piece of computer software that performs a particular task
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] that can be used for several different purposes :
an all-round utility player (= one who can play equally well in several different positions in a sport)
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French utilite , from Latin utilitas , from utilis useful.