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
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Those most recent rate increases were reviewed and approved by Newsom appointees at the state public utilities commission. Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024 What’s at stake: The influential Corporation Commission regulates public utilities, oil, gas and other energy sources, commercial transportation and petroleum storage tanks. USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 Nearly two million Americans have tap water that contains more than twice the amount of fluoride thought to be safe by the U.S. government, 0.7 mg/L. Experts say contacting your local water utility company or public utilities office is the best way to know how much fluoride is in your water. Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 23 Oct. 2024 In addition, the recent DARPA AI Cyber Challenge showed that developers could create new generative AI systems to safeguard critical software that undergirds everything from financial systems and hospitals to public utilities. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for public utility 

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of public utility was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near public utility

Cite this Entry

“Public utility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20utility. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on public utility

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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