Utility: A Company, a Room, and a Measure of Satisfaction
Utility means usefulness. It also names companies supplying water and power, a British household room, and a key idea in economics.
Utility means usefulness. From that one idea English built several very different things: *utilities* are the companies supplying water, gas and electricity; a British *utility room* holds the washing machine; and in economics *utility* is the satisfaction a person gets from something, which is what demand curves are built from.
- Usefulness. *The utility of the tool.*
- A supplier of water or power. *Utility bills.*
- A room for laundry (British). *A small utility room.*
- Satisfaction (economics). *Marginal utility.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | utility | Practical utility. |
| Plural | utilities | Utility bills. |
| Adjective | utilitarian | A utilitarian design. |
| Verb | utilise | Utilise the space. |
| Related | utensil | Kitchen utensils. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Utilities are included in the rent.Water, gas, electricity.
- Marginal utility falls as you consume more.The second slice is worth less than the first.
- The building is utilitarian but efficient.Plain and practical.
Utility in economics
- Utility — the satisfaction from consuming something
- Marginal utility — the satisfaction from one more unit
- Diminishing marginal utility — each extra unit is worth less
- Utilitarianism — judging actions by the happiness they produce
- Utility player — in sport, someone who can play several positions
From Latin *utilitas*, usefulness, from *uti*, to use — the same verb as in *utensil*, *usual* and *abuse*.
Utilise or use?
Use is almost always better. Utilise properly means to make practical use of something not designed for it, and is otherwise padding.
What is diminishing marginal utility?
The idea that each additional unit of something gives less satisfaction than the one before, which is why the fourth doughnut is a mistake.