Wordwyrt

utility

/juːˈtɪləti/yoo-TIH-luh-tee
/juˈtɪləti/yoo-TIH-luh-tee

Meaningusefulness

Common meaning: usefulness

Other meanings: a public service

Journey through time

  1. Latinūtor, ūsus; ūtilis‘to use’
  2. Englishutility‘usefulness’ · today

util also in: utiliseuseabuseusageusual

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin ūtor ‘to use; useful’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry ūtor, p. 1946 · dictionary scan

Roots

Related words

abuseusageuseusualutilise

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