What does utility mean?
Word: Utility
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Utility means how much practical help or use something gives. It is also a public service that every home needs, supplied by a company or the government.
Synonyms: use, benefit, service
Antonyms: uselessness
How do you spell utility?
Syllables: u - til - i - ty
Tricky part: There are no double letters anywhere in utility: one l, and the two t's are kept apart. Utillity and utilitty are the usual slips.
Watch out for: utillity, utilaty, utilitty
Memory tip: Picture a utility room with only one of everything: one l, and two t's kept in separate corners.
Utility in a sentence
Example 1: Our utility bills arrive at the start of each month.
Example 2: This old trunk has little utility now, so we use it as a table.
Example 3: Grandpa keeps his tools in the utility room behind the kitchen.
Fun Fact
In computing, a small program that does one helpful job, such as checking a disk or compressing files, is called a utility.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
ut_l_ty
a) i, e
b) e, i
c) a, i
d) i, i
Show answer
d) i, i. Both gaps take i: u-til-i-ty, the same as in ability.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
utility
a) safety
b) beauty
c) usefulness
d) rarity
Show answer
c) usefulness. The utility of a tool is how useful it is.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
iltyuti
a) humility
b) futility
c) utterly
d) utility
Show answer
d) utility. Start with the lone u; the t, i, l, i, t, y left over spell til-i-ty.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) appliance
b) plumbing
c) utility
d) maintainance
Show answer
d) maintainance. Maintain changes to mainten in maintenance, which has en after the t.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A utility vehicle is built to be ____.
a) useful for many jobs
b) small enough to park anywhere
c) as fast as a race car
d) shown at motor fairs
Show answer
a) useful for many jobs
2. ____ is an example of a public utility.
a) A cricket stadium
b) A cinema hall
c) A shopping mall
d) The electricity supply
Show answer
d) The electricity supply
