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

Like it or not, the era of regulated generation dominated by public utilities is largely a thing of the past. — David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

The Ordinance exempts wells operated by a public utility regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 23 June 2026

In addition, to avoid a sudden loss of tax revenues, Elliott said that public utilities could enter into a payment in lieu of tax agreement with their local municipality. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026

Entities that run the electricity grid The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state public utility commissions jointly regulate the nation’s electricity grid. — Alexandra Klass, The Conversation, 17 June 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