Standard Lemma guide

instrumentality

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˌɪnstɹʊmɛnˈtælɪti/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ælɪti
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N S T R AH0 M EH0 N T AE1 L IH0 T IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The condition or quality of being instrumental; being useful; serving a purpose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Something that is instrumental; an instrument.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A governmental organ with a specific purpose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

an artifact (or system of artifacts) that is instrumental in accomplishing some end

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: instrumentation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: artifact, artefact

Narrower terms: ceramic, connection, connexion, connector, connecter, connective, container, conveyance, transport, device, equipment, furnishing, hardware, ironware, implement, means, system, toiletry, toilet articles, weaponry, arms, implements of war, weapons system, munition, medium

5

noun

Meaning 5

the quality of being instrumental for some purpose

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: utility, usefulness

6

noun

Meaning 6

a subsidiary organ of government created for a special purpose

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • are the judicial instrumentalities of local governments adequate?
  • he studied the French instrumentalities for law enforcement

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: unit, social unit

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English instrumental Proto-Indo-European *-teh2 Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh2ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English instrumentality From instrumental + -ity.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Hilfe — quality or condition of being instrumental
  • German: Hilfestellung — quality or condition of being instrumental
  • German: Ausführungsorgan — governmental organ
  • German: Intrumentalität — something that is instrumental; an instrument
  • German: Werkzeug — something that is instrumental; an instrument
  • German: Instrumentarium — something that is instrumental; an instrument
  • German: Mittel — something that is instrumental; an instrument
  • German: Tatmittel — instrumentality of crime (criminal asset)
  • German: Tatwerkzeug — instrumentality of crime (criminal asset)