utility

Universal Words noun, adjective noun (plural utilities) 1 [C] (especially AmE) a service provided for the public, for example an electricity, water or gas supply: the administration of public utilities * Rescue teams worked desperately to restore utilities in the area shattered by the hurricane. 2 [U] (formal) the quality of being useful: This information is of the highest utility to a historian. 3 [C] (computing) a piece of computer SOFTWARE that performs a particular task adjective [onlybeforenoun] that can be used for several different purposes: a utility vehicle * an all-round utility player (= one who can play equally well in several different positions, for example in football)