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utilitythe state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial

Pronunciation (IPA): /juːˈtɪləti/

Example Sentences

  • My grandmother still questions the utility of smartphones while texting me 50 times a day.
  • The utility of buying 20 pairs of shoes becomes questionable when you only have two feet.
  • Economists study how consumers maximize their utility when making purchasing decisions.

utility

NOUN

[/juːˈtɪləti/]

the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial

This pocket knife has real utility on every camping trip.
💡 Concept

This pocket knife has real utility on every camping trip.

Utility transforms futility into fertility!
🎵 Rhyme

Utility transforms futility into fertility!

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/juːˈtɪləti/
🇬🇧 UK/juːˈtɪləti/

🌳Etymology

Rootutil
Suffix--ity

Origin

Derived from Latin utilitas, meaning 'usefulness' or 'fitness for use'. The term evolved from the classical period and became established in Medieval Latin to denote practical value and functional benefit.

Breakdown

utilis (useful) + -itas (noun suffix indicating state or quality), where utilis derives from uti (to use). The suffix -itas transforms the adjective into an abstract noun expressing the quality of being useful.

🎵Rhyme

futilityfertilityhostility
futility
fertility
hostility

🔗Collocations

public utility
utility bill
marginal utility
utility function
utility room
maximize utility

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My grandmother still questions the utility of smartphones while texting me 50 times a day.

😄 Fun example

The utility of buying 20 pairs of shoes becomes questionable when you only have two feet.

Economists study how consumers maximize their utility when making purchasing decisions.

The utility companies are investing heavily in renewable energy sources.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

usefulnesspracticalitybenefitvalueservice

Antonyms

futilityuselessnessworthlessness

Related

utilizeutilitarianpracticalfunctionalbeneficial

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