public utility

noun

: a business organization (such as an electric company) performing a public service and subject to special governmental regulation

Examples of public utility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This compulsory acquisition of private property for public use is typically wielded by the government, like a state highway department, or a public utility, like a gas company. —Steve Osunsami, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2025

Allow the governor just two appointments to the utilities commission, which sets public utility rates, rather than three. —Lucille Sherman, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024

The federal agency has estimated thousands of water systems may eventually need to take action to prevent deaths and serious illnesses among about 100 million Americans who rely on these public utilities for clean water. —Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024

While the fault, or disturbance, occurred several miles away on a power line that does not traverse Eaton Canyon, it was detected at 6:11 p.m. on Jan. 7, the utility said in a filing with state public utilities regulators. —Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for public utility

• acceptability
• accessibility
• adaptability
• admissibility
• advisability
• affordability
• allowability
• amenability
• amiability
• appealability
• applicability
• availability

Kids Definition

public utility

noun

: a business organization performing a public service and subject to special governmental regulation

Legal Definition

public utility

noun

: a business organization (as an electric company) performing a public service and subject to special government regulation