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

The future of the proposal DC BLOX told CNN the project would be built in phases, beginning with a roughly 70,000 square-foot facility followed by a second building measuring approximately 261,000 square feet. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Those assets include natural gas and natural gas liquid (NGL) pipelines, gas processing facilities, crude oil terminals and gathering pipelines, water gathering pipelines, and more. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

This may be thanks to The Hub, a chain of pickleball facilities that have opened locally in recent years, according to Strachan. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 5 July 2026

Local reports indicate the facilities rely on water from an inland spring that is outside Caltrans' control, and the same rest area experienced a similar extended summer closure last year. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 July 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