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 plural

facilities for study

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

(2)

: lavatory sense 2

—often 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

By 2019, authorities sealed off the group's worship facility in Beijing, forcing the congregation to meet in smaller groups and at different locations, Gu said. — ABC News, 9 Nov. 2026

The Saudi Energy Ministry said there were no casualties at the Aramco facility. — Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026

Police were conducting a thorough search with help from facility security personnel late Saturday, officials said. — CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

Surveillance devices are never permitted in spaces where guests have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, changing rooms, saunas or spa facilities. — Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 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