Difference Wiki

Utility vs. Tool

Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 17, 2023
"Utility" refers to the state of being useful or beneficial for a particular purpose, while "tool" is a physical or software-based instrument used to perform specific tasks.

Key Differences

The word "utility" is more abstract and focuses on the end result or the benefit that something provides. It is an overarching concept that may or may not be tied to any specific instrumentality. "Tool," on the other hand, is a much more concrete term. It often signifies the means to achieve an end, as opposed to the end itself, which is implied by "utility."
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
While "utility" is versatile and can be applied to almost anything that provides some kind of benefit or advantage, "tool" is more context-specific. For instance, you might talk about the utility of having a good education, but you would not typically refer to education as a tool (although specific educational resources could be described as tools).
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
"Utility" is a word that encapsulates the idea of usefulness or functionality. It can refer to the state of being useful, particularly in a functional sense. The term is broad and can be applied to various contexts, such as the utility of a service, a concept, or even an abstract idea. In contrast, "tool" is more narrowly defined and refers to an object or instrument used to carry out a specific task. It often implies physicality or tangibility, although it can also refer to software tools.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
In terms of grammar, "utility" is usually a noun but can also serve as an adjective in some cases ("utilitarian"). "Tool" is primarily a noun but can sometimes act as a verb ("to tool around"). Both words can serve different roles in sentences but are most commonly employed as nouns.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comparison Chart

Part of Speech

Noun, sometimes an adjective
Noun, sometimes a verb
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Sep 17, 2023

Context

Broad, abstract
Specific, often tangible
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Sep 17, 2023
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Focus

End result
Means to an end
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Sep 17, 2023

Tangibility

Can be abstract
Usually tangible
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023

Versatility

Can be applied to various contexts
More context-specific
Janet White
Sep 17, 2023

Utility and Tool Definitions

Utility

The state of being useful.
The utility of the new software became evident.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Tool

An implement used to perform a particular task.
I used a hammer as a tool.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Utility

The quality or condition of being useful; usefulness
"I have always doubted the utility of these conferences on disarmament" (Winston S. Churchill).
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022
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Tool

A handheld device that aids in accomplishing a task.
Pass me that tool from the toolbox.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023

Utility

A useful article or device.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Software designed to perform specific functions.
Photoshop is a graphic design tool.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 17, 2023

Utility

A public utility.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A device, such as a saw, shovel, or drill, used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

A commodity or service, such as electricity, water, or public transportation, that is provided by a public utility.
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Nov 05, 2022
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Tool

A machine, such as a lathe, used to cut and shape machine parts or other objects.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

(Computers) A utility program.
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Tool

The cutting part of such a machine.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

(Economics) The benefit that a chosen course of action affords, as subjectively judged by the chooser.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Something regarded as necessary to the carrying out of one's occupation or profession
Words are the tools of our trade.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Prepared to play any of the smaller theatrical roles on short notice
A utility cast member.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Something used in the performance of an operation; an instrument
"Modern democracies have the fiscal and monetary tools ... to end chronic slumps and galloping inflations" (Paul A. Samuelson).
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Capable of playing as a substitute in any of several positions
A utility infielder.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Vulgar Slang The penis.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Designed for various often heavy-duty practical uses
A utility knife.
A utility vehicle.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A person used to carry out the designs of another; a dupe.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Raised or kept for the production of a farm product rather than for show or as pets
Utility livestock.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A bookbinder's hand stamp.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Of the lowest US Government grade
Utility beef.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A design impressed on a book cover by such a stamp.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

The state or condition of being useful; usefulness.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

(Computers) A utility program.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Something that is useful.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To form, work, or decorate with a tool.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

(economics) The ability of a commodity to satisfy needs or wants; the satisfaction experienced by the consumer of that commodity.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To ornament (a book cover) with a bookbinder's tool.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

(philosophy) Well-being, satisfaction, pleasure, or happiness.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

(Slang) To drive (a vehicle)
Tooled the car at 80 miles an hour.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

A natural or legal areal monopoly distributer of a commodity (less often a service) delivered in continuous flows to multiple consumers from a common physical, infrastructural network, such as an electric company or water company; or, the securities of such a provider.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To work with a tool.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

(computing) A software program designed to perform a single task or a small range of tasks, often to help manage and tune computer hardware, an operating system or application software.
I've bought a new disk utility that can recover deleted files.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

(Slang) To drive or ride in a vehicle
Tooled up and down the roads.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

(sports) The ability to play multiple positions.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.
Hand me that tool, would you?
I don't have the right tools to start fiddling around with the engine.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Having to do with, or owned by, a service provider.
Utility line; utility bill
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Any piece of equipment used in a profession, e.g. a craftman's tools.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

(Of a building or its components) containing or intended for any of a building’s often-utility-related commodity transport, such as pipes or wires, or converting equipment, such as furnaces, water tanks or heaters, circuit breakers, central air conditioning units, laundry facilities, etc.
Utility room; utility corridor
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Something to perform an operation; an instrument; a means.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Functional rather than attractive.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

(computing) A piece of software used to develop software or hardware, or to perform low-level operations.
The software engineer had been developing lots of EDA tools.
A tool for recovering deleted files from a disk
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

The quality or state of being useful; usefulness; production of good; profitableness to some valuable end; as, the utility of manure upon land; the utility of the sciences; the utility of medicines.
The utility of the enterprises was, however, so great and obvious that all opposition proved useless.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A person or group which is used or controlled, usually unwittingly, by another person or group.
He was a tool, no more than a pawn to her.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Adaptation to satisfy the desires or wants; intrinsic value. See Note under Value, 2.
Value in use is utility, and nothing else, and in political economy should be called by that name and no other.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

An obnoxious or uptight person.
He won't sell us tickets because it's 3:01, and they went off sale at 3. That guy's such a tool.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Happiness; the greatest good, or happiness, of the greatest number, - the foundation of utilitarianism.
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A penis, notably with a sexual or erotic connotation.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

A company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A gun.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

The quality of being of practical use
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

(transitive) To work on or shape with tools, e.g., hand-tooled leather.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

The service provided by a utility company;
The cost of utilities never decreases
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

(transitive) To equip with tools.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

(economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

(intransitive) To work very hard.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

(computer science) a program designed for general support of the processes of a computer;
A computer system provides utility programs to perform the tasks needed by most users
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To put down another person (possibly in a subtle, hidden way), and in that way to use him or her to meet a goal.
Dude, he's not your friend. He's just tooling you.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

A facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage disposal;
The price of the house included all utilities
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To intentionally attack the ball so that it deflects off a blocker out of bounds.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Used of beef; usable but inferior
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To drive (a coach or other vehicle).
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team;
A utility infielder
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To carry or convey in a coach or other vehicle.
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Nov 05, 2022

Utility

The quality of providing benefit.
The utility of regular exercise is well-known.
Samantha Walker
Sep 17, 2023

Tool

To travel in a vehicle; to ride or drive.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

A service providing a public need.
The electric utility restored power quickly.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Tool

An instrument such as a hammer, saw, plane, file, and the like, used in the manual arts, to facilitate mechanical operations; any instrument used by a craftsman or laborer at his work; an implement; as, the tools of a joiner, smith, shoe-maker, etc.; also, a cutter, chisel, or other part of an instrument or machine that dresses work.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

Usefulness in terms of content or capability.
The utility of the data was unquestionable.
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Sep 17, 2023

Tool

A machine for cutting or shaping materials; - also called machine tool.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Utility

A measure of the total satisfaction received from consuming a good or service.
Economists discuss utility in terms of consumer choice.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Tool

Hence, any instrument of use or service.
That angry fool . . . Whipping her horse, did with his smarting toolOft whip her dainty self.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A weapon.
Him that is aghast of every tool.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A person used as an instrument by another person; - a word of reproach; as, men of intrigue have their tools, by whose agency they accomplish their purposes.
I was not made for a minion or a tool.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To shape, form, or finish with a tool.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To drive, as a coach.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

To travel in a vehicle; to ride or drive.
Boys on their bicycles tooling along the well-kept roads.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

An implement used in the practice of a vocation
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

The means whereby some act is accomplished;
My greed was the instrument of my destruction
Science has given us new tools to fight disease
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

A person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else
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Tool

Obscene terms for penis
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Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Drive;
The convertible tooled down the street
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Ride in a car with no particular goal and just for the pleasure of it;
We tooled down the street
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Furnish with tools
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Work with a tool
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 05, 2022

Tool

Something used to achieve an end result.
Language is a powerful tool for persuasion.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Tool

An instrumental means for achieving a purpose.
Diplomacy is a tool of statecraft.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 17, 2023

FAQs

What does tool mean?

A tool is an object or instrument used to perform a specific task.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Is a tool always a physical object?

No, tools can also be software or conceptual means for achieving an end.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Can utility be tangible?

Utility can refer to both tangible and intangible benefits.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

What does utility mean?

Utility refers to the state or quality of being useful or beneficial.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Is a tool always man-made?

Generally, but some animals use natural objects as tools.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023

Can utility act as an adjective?

Yes, in some contexts, like "utilitarian."
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

How is utility different from usefulness?

Utility is a broader concept, encompassing overall benefit, not just immediate usefulness.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Is utility versatile in context?

Yes, utility can be applied to various contexts, from economics to daily life.
Samantha Walker
Sep 17, 2023

Is tool versatile in context?

Tool is more context-specific, usually referring to a means for achieving a specific end.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023

Can utility be measured?

In economics, utility is often quantified, but in general contexts, it's more qualitative.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023

Are all tools utilitarian?

Generally, tools are designed to have utility, but not all may be effective.
Samantha Walker
Sep 17, 2023

Can a tool have utility?

Yes, in fact, tools are generally designed to have specific utility.
Samantha Walker
Sep 17, 2023

Can tool act as a verb?

Yes, as in "to tool around," meaning to wander or roam.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Can a tool be harmful?

Yes, tools can be misused or have negative effects if not used properly.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 17, 2023

Is utility always positive?

Typically, but "utility" can be used in negative contexts to indicate lack of usefulness.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 17, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira Riaz
Sawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma Saeed
Huma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.

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