utility

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "utility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to services such as electricity, water, or gas that are supplied to a community. For example, "The utility company is running a promotion for new customers this month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To get a feel for how GPI differs from GDP, imagine two heating-oil trucks leaving from the same utility company: one safely completes its deliveries and the other has a major oil spill on the way to its first customer.

The Guardian

A Tehran-based Green Movement activist had mixed feelings about the utility of such mediated exchanges between Iran and the United States.

The Guardian

The French utility, Veolia, is suing Egypt under these same provisions over an increase in the national minimum wage.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the past quarter, the iPhone outsold the BlackBerry; now, Citigroup and Bank of America are investigating whether the iPhone offers a sufficient mixture of security and utility to replace it.

The Guardian - Tech

Imagine the popular transit planner Citymapper fused to a cycle hire service and a taxi app such as Hailo or Uber, with only one payment required, and the whole thing run as a public utility, and you begin to understand the scale of ambition here.

The Guardian

Vodafone, having sold its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless for a princely sum, is closer to demonstrating that it is not a dull utility standing still.

The Guardian - Business

It scales up to include smart cities – think of connected traffic signals that monitor utility use, or smart bins that signal when they need to be emptied – and industry, with connected sensors for everything from tracking parts to monitoring crops.

The Guardian - Tech

But Fremantle may have paid a high price for the win with tall utility Zac Clarke taken from the ground in the final term clutching his left knee.

The Guardian - Sport

From Porto Alegre's participatory budgeting and the literally destratifying cable cars of Caracas, to Nairobi's "digital matatus" and the repurposed bus-ferries of Manila, the communities of the south are responsible for an ever-lengthening parade of social and technical innovations that rival anything the developed world has to offer for ingenuity and practical utility.

The Guardian

This measure of store prices is narrower than consumer price inflation (CPI), which also includes utility bills, and the cost of services such as haircuts and restaurant meals.

The Guardian - Business

All their money was going on incredibly high utility bills – they were on a high rate meter and a gas leak in their house meant costs went through the roof.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to companies providing essential services like electricity or water, use "utility" to denote the service provider rather than just the service itself. For instance, "Contact the utility company" instead of "Contact the electricity".

Common error

Avoid using "utility" interchangeably with "usefulness" in contexts where you mean the general state of being useful. "Utility" often refers specifically to a service-providing company or a software tool, whereas "usefulness" describes a quality.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "utility" is as a noun, referring to the state of being useful, a useful item, or a company that provides essential services. Ludwig confirms that the word is correct and usable. It is commonly found in various contexts as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

25%

Sport

9%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "utility" is a versatile noun with multiple meanings, ranging from the state of being useful to denoting essential service providers. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in English. Its frequent appearance in news and business contexts highlights its relevance in discussing services, companies, and software. While often used neutrally, understanding its specific context is crucial to avoid confusion with similar terms like "usefulness". Proper usage, as evidenced by examples, enhances clarity and precision in writing, especially in professional and formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

usefulness

Focuses specifically on the quality of being useful or beneficial.

practicality

Emphasizes the aspect of being suitable and effective in real-world situations.

serviceability

Highlights the ability to provide a useful service or function.

effectiveness

Refers to the degree to which something is successful in producing a desired result.

advantage

Indicates a benefit or gain derived from something.

resource

Focuses on the availability of something that can be used to meet a need.

public service

Specifically refers to services provided by the government or public sector, such as electricity or water.

efficiency

Emphasizes the ability to accomplish something with minimum waste of time and effort.

functionality

Highlights the range of functions or capabilities that something offers.

worthiness

Emphasizes having qualities that merit respect, admiration, or support.

FAQs

How to use "utility" in a sentence?

You can use "utility" to refer to the state of being useful, a useful item, or a company that provides essential services. For example, "The iPhone offers a sufficient mixture of security and "utility"", or "The city authorities argue that the water does not come from the local "utility" company".

What can I say instead of "utility" when referring to usefulness?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "usefulness", "practicality", or "effectiveness" to convey the quality of being useful.

Which is correct, "utility bill" or "usefulness bill"?

"Utility bill" is the correct term because it refers to a bill for services provided by a "utility" company, such as electricity, gas, or water. "Usefulness bill" is not a standard or recognized term.

What's the difference between "utility" and "service"?

"Utility" often refers to the company providing essential services or a specific software tool, whereas "service" is a broader term referring to the act of providing something. For example, a "utility" provides a "service".