A company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation.

synonyms: public-service corporation, public utility, public utility company.

Roget 646: expedience, expediency; desirableness, desirability etc. adj.; fitness etc. (agreement) 23; utility etc. 644; propriety; opportunism; advantage.    high time etc. (occasion) 134.    ... show more

Roget 618: good, benefit, advantage; improvement etc. 658; greatest good, supreme good; interest, service, behoof, behalf; weal; main chance, summum bonum [Lat.], common weal; consummation devoutly to be wished;" gain, boot; profit, harvest.    boon etc. (gift) 784; good turn; blessing; world of good; piece of good luck [Fr.], piece of good fortune [Fr.]; nuts, prize, windfall, godsend, waif, treasure-trove.    good fortune etc. (prosperity) 734; happiness etc. 827.    [Source of good] goodness etc. 648; utility etc. 644; remedy etc. 662; pleasure giving etc. 829.    ... show more

Dutch: nutsbedrijf, overheidsbedrijf

The quality of being of practical use.

synonym: usefulness.

Roget 644: utility; usefulness etc. adj.; efficacy, efficiency, adequacy; service, use, stead, avail; help etc. (aid) 707; applicability etc. adj.; subservience etc. (instrumentality) 631; function etc. (business) 625; value; worth etc. (goodness) 648; money's worth; productiveness etc. 168; cui bono [Lat.] etc. (intention) 620; utilization etc. (use) 677; step in the right direction.    common weal; commonwealth public good, public interest; utilitarianism etc. (philanthropy) 910.    ... show more

Dutch: bruikbaarheid
Polish: celowość, utylitarność, zdatność, praktyczność, przydatność, pomocność, użyteczność

The service (electric power or water or transportation) provided by a public utility.

Dutch: handigs

economics A measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice.

Dutch: handigheid, hulpmiddel

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.

Dutch: bruikbaarheid

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.

Used of beef; usable but inferior.

synonym: utility-grade.

Capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team:
— A utility infielder.

synonym: substitute.