Phrase guide

public utility

noun · 3 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Synonym of public service.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: public service

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An organization that maintains the infrastructure for such a public service.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: utility, public utility company, public-service corporation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: service

Narrower terms: telephone company, telephone service, phone company, phone service, telco, power company, power service, electric company, light company, water company, waterworks, gas company, gas service, bus company, bus service

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 公用事業 /公用事业 (gōngyòng shìyè) — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Finnish: yleishyödyllisen palvelun järjestäjä — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Finnish: julkisen palvelun järjestäjä — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • French: entreprise de service public — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • German: öffentliches Versorgungsunternehmen — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Hungarian: közmű — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Hungarian: közüzem — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Hungarian: közszolgáltató — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Hungarian: közműszolgáltató — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Hungarian: közüzemi szolgáltató — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Italian: impresa pubblica — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Russian: жилищно-коммунальные услуги (žiliščno-kommunalʹnyje uslugi) — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service
  • Spanish: empresa de utilidad pública — organization that maintains infrastructure for a public service