util·i·ty
yü-ˈti-lə-tē 
plural utilities
1
: fitness for some purpose or worth to some end
2
: something useful or designed for use
3
a
b(1)
: a service (such 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 (such as copying files or editing text) on a computer
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
Examples of utility in a Sentence
Noun
a plan without much practical utility
Notify the utility if there's an outage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
Over the ensuing 10 months, the Vatican undertook extensive renovations to the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, which hadn’t been used during Francis’ 12-year papacy and was in dire need of an update to bring its electric, plumbing and other utilities up to standard.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Duran projects to get the majority of backup shortstop reps behind Corey Seager if super-utility man Josh Smith becomes the everyday second baseman.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for utility
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
While just a few weeks ago, voter concerns about AI data centers and rising utility costs seemed to be replacing gas prices at the pump as the new political bellwether, now surging fuel prices are the focus again.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
Over the ensuing 10 months, the Vatican undertook extensive renovations to the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, which hadn’t been used during Francis’ 12-year papacy and was in dire need of an update to bring its electric, plumbing and other utilities up to standard.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Bregman’s arrival pushed Matt Shaw into a super-utility role that is still being defined.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Duran projects to get the majority of backup shortstop reps behind Corey Seager if super-utility man Josh Smith becomes the everyday second baseman.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for utility
Cite this Entry
“Utility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utility. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
utility
1 of 2 noun
util·i·ty
yü-ˈtil-ət-ē
plural utilities
1
: the quality or state of being useful : usefulness
2
: something useful or designed for use
3
a
b
: a public service (as power or water) provided by a public utility
4
: a program designed to perform or aid in especially routine actions (as copying files or editing text) on a computer
utility
2 of 2 adjective1
: capable of serving as a substitute in various roles or positions
utility infielder
2
: being of a usable but poor quality
utility beef
3
: serving chiefly for usefulness rather than beauty : utilitarian
4
: designed for general use
utility bag
Legal Definition
utility
noun
util·i·ty
plural utilities
1
: fitness for some purpose or worth to some end
2
a
b
: a service or commodity provided by a public utility
paid for rent and utilities
also
: equipment or material used in providing such a service or commodity
an easement limited to purposes of travel which does not include the right to install utilities —Ware v. Public Serv. Co., 412 A.2d 84 (1980)
Ware v. Public Serv. Co., 412 A.2d 84 (1980) 3
plural
: stocks or bonds of utility companies
utilities performed poorly
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