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

• complex
• establishment
• installation

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

Advertisement The group is also seeking donations for another facility and taking more trips to the Midwest, acquiring dogs from the Missouri rescue group that serves as a go-between for Barker. —David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2024

Inspectors detected smoke coming from the men’s restroom and asked the restaurant insure no smoking is happening in the facility. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 21 June 2024

California now joins just two other states, Oregon and Minnesota, to protect people who work indoors in facilities like warehouses, restaurants and refineries. —Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 21 June 2024

The Postal Service in February opened a new processing and distribution facility in Palmetto, southwest of Atlanta, that was supposed to be a model of the restructuring. —Kelly Yamanouchi The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (tns), arkansasonline.com, 20 June 2024

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

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