facility

noun

fa·​cil·​i·​ty fə-ˈsi-lə-tē 

plural facilities

1

: the quality of being easily performed

2

: ease in performance : aptitude

has a great facility for writing

3

: readiness of compliance

4

a(1)

: something that makes an action, operation, or course of conduct easier

—usually used in plural

facilities for study

The resort has a wide range of facilities for young and old alike.

(2)

: lavatory sense 2

—often used in plural

b

: something (such as a hospital) that is built, installed, or established to serve a particular purpose

Synonyms of facility

• institution
• building
• establishment
• installation
• complex
• institute

Examples of facility in a Sentence

The facilities are at the end of the corridor.

He had a great facility for writing.

He had great facility with words.

She handled the crisis with facility.

Recent Examples on the Web

Their facility would use just 2% of a hyperscaler’s power and occupy about 2% as much space, according to the company. —Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026

Research facilities now located in multiple regions will fall under a central research organization based in Fort Collins, the agency said. —Terry Collins, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

State inspectors had never once visited the Esparto facility before the deadly blast; that responsibility fell only to local authorities, until now. —Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026

The funding supports a broader multibillion-euro infrastructure push, with facilities planned in France and Sweden to meet rising demand from governments and enterprises seeking more control over their AI systems. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English facilite "gentleness," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French facilité "quality of being easily performed," borrowed from Latin facilitāt-, facilitās, from facilis "easy, facile" + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing facility

• correctional facility
• medical facility
• sensitive compartmented information facility

Rhymes for facility

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• fertility
• fragility
• futility
• gentility
• hostility
• humility

Kids Definition

facility

noun

fa·​cil·​i·​ty fə-ˈsil-ət-ē 

plural facilities

1

: freedom from difficulty : ease

handled with facility

2

: skill and ease in doing something

a great facility for writing well

3

a

: something that makes an action, operation, or activity easier

—usually used in plural

facilities for study

b

: something (as a hospital) that is put up for a particular purpose

Medical Definition

facility

noun

fa·​cil·​i·​ty fə-ˈsil-ət-ē 

plural facilities

1

: the quality of being easily performed

2

: ease in performance : aptitude

3

: something (as a hospital) that is built, installed, or established to serve a particular purpose