# utility

> English word · Noun · IPA /juːˈtɪl.ɪ.ti/ · frequency rank #4,564

## Definitions
1. The state or condition of being useful; usefulness.
2. Something that is useful.
3. The ability of a commodity to satisfy needs or wants; the satisfaction experienced by the consumer of that commodity.
4. Well-being, satisfaction, pleasure, or happiness.
5. A commodity or service provided on a continuous basis by a physical infrastructure network, such as electricity, water supply or sewerage.
6. A natural or legal monopoly distributer of such a utility; or, the securities of such a provider.
7. A software program other than a game; one that is useful or creative rather than merely entertaining.
8. A software program designed to perform a single task or a small range of tasks, often to help manage and tune computer hardware, an operating system, or application software.
9. The ability to play multiple positions.
10. A coupé utility, or ute; an automobile with an open tray or bed behind the passenger cabin.

## Etymology
From Middle English utilite, from Old French utilite, utilitet (“usefulness”), from Latin ūtilitās, from uti (“to use”). By surface analysis, utile + -ity.

## Easily confused with
- **utilize** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/utility-vs-utilize)
- **utilise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/utilise-vs-utility)

## Common misspellings (10)
`tuility`, `uitlity`, `utiilty`, `utilitty`, `utilityy`, `utiliyt`, `utillity`, `utiltiy`, `utliity`, `uttility`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/utility