utility
utility — 名詞
1. one of the basic services like electricity, gas, or water that homes and busines
公用事業
供給電力、瓦斯、水等公共服務
one of the basic services like electricity, gas, or water that homes and businesses rely on every day.
The storm damaged power lines, so the utility company sent workers to restore the electricity.
暴風雨毀壞了電線，所以公用事業公司派人去恢復供電。
collocation: utility company / utility bill / utility service
Jin called the water utility to report a leak in the pipe outside his house.
Jin 打電話給自來水公司，報告他家屋外的水管漏水。
Many families struggle to pay their utility bills during the cold winter months.
許多家庭在寒冷的冬季很難繳出水電瓦斯費。
When the gas utility was shut down for repairs, everyone in the building lost heating.
瓦斯管線因維修而暫停供應時，整棟大樓的住戶都沒有暖氣。
用法筆記
Frequently used attributively before nouns like company, bill, service, or provider to specify which aspect of the service is being discussed.
常見錯誤
2. a business that provides a public service such as electricity, gas, or water to
公用事業公司
提供電、瓦斯、水等服務的企業
a business that provides a public service such as electricity, gas, or water to customers.
Large utility companies often invest billions in maintaining power grids and pipelines.
大型公用事業公司經常投資數十億美元來維護電網和管線。
collocation: utility companies
Walid works for a local utility that supplies drinking water to three nearby towns.
Walid 在一家為附近三個城鎮提供飲用水的公用事業公司工作。
The government introduced new rules to stop utilities from raising prices without warning.
政府制定新規定，以防止公用事業公司在未經預告的情況下調漲價格。
Investors bought shares in several utilities after the energy market was opened to competition.
能源市場開放競爭後，投資人購買了好幾家公用事業公司的股票。
- public utility
more formal term that legally defines a company serving the public interest under government regulation
- service provider
broader term that includes non-essential services such as internet or phone
用法筆記
This sense is often used in the plural (utilities) to refer to utility companies collectively, particularly in financial or regulatory contexts.
常見錯誤
3. how practical and helpful something is for achieving a particular goal.
實用性
實用價值或用途
how practical and helpful something is for achieving a particular goal.
Lakan questioned the utility of buying a tablet when his laptop already worked well.
Lakan 質疑既然他的筆電已經很好用了，買一台平板電腦到底有什麼實用性。
question + the utility of + gerund
The utility of this small tool became clear when Andrei needed to fix his bicycle.
Andrei 需要修理腳踏車時，這把小工具才展現了它的實用性。
Lauren measured the utility of each proposal by how many people it would help.
Lauren 根據每一項提案能直接幫助多少人，來衡量其實用性。
The new software has limited utility for designers who work with images every day.
對每天處理圖像的設計師來說，這套新軟體的實用性很有限。
- usefulness
less formal, preferred in everyday speech; utility is more common in formal or analytical writing
- practicality
emphasizes ease of use or suitability for real-world conditions rather than general usefulness
- value
broader term that can include emotional or financial worth, not just practical function
- uselessness
direct opposite; the state of having no practical purpose
用法筆記
Typically uncountable. Often preceded by an adjective (great, limited, little, practical) or the preposition 'of' (the utility of something). More formal than usefulness.
常見錯誤
4. a computer program that performs a specific supporting task, such as compressing
公用程式
執行系統維護等輔助功能的程式
a computer program that performs a specific supporting task, such as compressing files, converting data, or scanning for viruses.
Gabriel downloaded a free utility to convert video files into MP3 format.
Gabriel 下載了一個免費的公用程式，用來把影片檔案轉換成 MP3 格式。
download + a utility + to-infinitive purpose
This utility scans your computer for duplicate photos and helps you remove them.
這個公用程式會掃描你的電腦中重複的照片，並幫你刪除它們。
Eshe used a disk utility to repair errors on her external hard drive.
Eshe 用磁碟公用程式修復了外接硬碟上的錯誤。
System administrators run utility programs to back up important data every night.
系統管理員每天晚上執行公用程式來備份重要的資料。
用法筆記
This sense takes modifiers specifying the tool's function: disk utility, file utility, backup utility, or system utility. Often countable (a utility, several utilities).
utility — 形容詞
1. good at playing multiple positions within a sports team.
多位置的
能勝任多個位置的（選手）
good at playing multiple positions within a sports team.
The coach valued Caio as a utility player who could fill in anywhere.
教練非常看重 Caio 作為一名多位置球員的價值，因為他能夠填補場上任何位置。
collocation: utility player
Tanvi trained as a utility infielder, covering shortstop, second, and third base.
Tanvi 接受內野多位置手的訓練，能夠擔任游擊手、二壘和三壘。
Stephanie made the team because of her utility role in both defence and attack.
Stephanie 因為攻守兩端都能勝任多個位置，因而入選了球隊。
A utility substitute on the bench must stay ready for any position at any time.
坐在板凳上的多位置替補球員必須隨時準備好接替任何位置。
- versatile
broader term that applies to skills outside sports; utility specifically describes a player's role on a team
- multi-position
more descriptive but less common; utility is the standard term in sports reporting
用法筆記
Occurs primarily before nouns referring to team members: utility player, utility infielder, utility substitute. Not used predicatively (❌ 'He is utility').
2. designed or suitable for use in several different ways, often as a practical alt
多用途的
可作多種用途的
designed or suitable for use in several different ways, often as a practical alternative to specialized items.
Charlotte bought a utility jacket with many pockets for hiking and camping trips.
Charlotte 買了一件多用途外套，有很多口袋，適合健行和露營。
utility jacket / utility vest
This utility knife has a blade that folds safely back into the handle.
這把多用途刀片可以安全地摺回收納在握柄內。
They installed utility shelves in the garage to store tools and paint cans.
他們在車庫安裝了多用途層架，用來收納工具和油漆罐。
A utility vehicle can carry both passengers and equipment on rough mountain roads.
一輛多用途車輛可以在崎嶇的山路上同時搭載乘客和裝備。
- multi-purpose
more explicit about having several functions; utility emphasizes practical, no-frills design
- all-purpose
suggests suitability for any situation; utility implies a focus on practical, everyday use
- practical
broader term about convenience and effectiveness; utility specifically describes the item's design philosophy
- specialized
designed for one specific purpose rather than multiple uses
用法筆記
Used before nouns for practical items: utility knife, utility vehicle, utility jacket. The item is designed for function across multiple tasks rather than a single specialized purpose.
3. built for practical use instead of for looks or fashion.
實用的
注重實用而非美觀的
built for practical use instead of for looks or fashion.
Reuben chose utility furniture made of plain wood instead of fancy designer pieces.
Reuben 選擇了樸素木材製成的實用家具，而不是花俏的設計師作品。
utility furniture — furniture designed for function over appearance
The kitchen had a utility look with stainless steel shelves and bright overhead lights.
那間廚房走實用路線，有不鏽鋼層架和明亮的頂燈。
Utility clothing like simple cotton shirts and sturdy boots sells well among farmers.
純棉襯衫和耐穿靴子這類實用服裝在農民之間很暢銷。
The building's utility design focused on easy cleaning rather than visual beauty.
這棟建築的實用設計注重的是容易清潔，而非視覺美感。
- utilitarian
more formal and slightly stronger in rejecting decoration; utility is the everyday term
- functional
broadly similar but lacks the specific connotation of deliberately avoiding ornament
- plain
focuses on appearance lacking decoration rather than the design philosophy
- decorative
designed for visual appeal rather than practical function
- ornamental
intended primarily for display rather than everyday use
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (MULTI-PURPOSE): sense 2 emphasizes 'usable for many tasks'; this sense emphasizes 'functional rather than decorative'. An item can be both multi-purpose and functional, but the guiding idea differs.
4. relating to a company or service that supplies electricity, gas, water, or simil
公用事業的
與水電瓦斯等供應相關的
relating to a company or service that supplies electricity, gas, water, or similar essential resources.
The utility sector is heavily regulated by the national energy authority.
公用事業部門受到國家能源主管機關的嚴格監管。
collocation: utility sector / utility industry
Utility workers were called out late at night to repair a broken gas pipe.
公用事業的工人在深夜被叫去修復破裂的瓦斯管。
The city council voted to lower the tax on utility infrastructure projects.
市議會投票決定降低公用事業基礎建設項目的稅收。
Utility rates in this region have remained stable for the past five years.
這個地區的公用事業費率在過去五年中一直保持穩定。
- public-service
broader term that can include transport, postal services, etc.; utility specifically relates to energy and water
- energy
narrower than utility, covering only electricity and fuel but not water or sewage
用法筆記
Used as an attributive adjective (before a noun) to indicate the commercial or industrial aspect of utility services. Does not describe the service itself (noun/1 covers that) but rather related concepts: utility stocks, utility regulation, utility infrastructure.