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

The companies could also sell excess power generation to utilities for public consumption, in addition to negotiating separate rate structures with public utilities and states, ensuring expenses are not passed on to consumers. —Josh Boak, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026

The reason for this is many lead lines run under private property, whereas a wastewater plant or other public utility infrastructure tends to be on public land. —CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026

It should be governed and guarded like a public utility to ensure that it can’t be exploited. —O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026

The companies could also sell excess power generation to utilities for public consumption, in addition to negotiating separate rate structures with public utilities and states, ensuring expenses are not passed on to consumers. —ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026

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