utility

Dictionary definition · utility

a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
the quality of being of practical use
the service (electric power or water or transportation) provided by a public utility"the cost of utilities never decreases"
(economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice
(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"
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"the price of the house included all utilities"

used of beef; usable but inferior
capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team"a utility infielder"

Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).