amenity
/əˈmiː.nə.ti/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A useful feature or piece of equipment in a place, especially one that makes it more comfortable or convenient. It is often used for hotels, homes, offices, and public places.
- The hotel offers many modern amenities.
- This apartment has all the basic amenities.
- A gym is a useful amenity for residents.
Adinary Nuance
Amenity is close to convenience, facility, and feature, but it usually sounds more formal. It often refers to things provided in a place, not just anything useful. In travel, housing, and business writing, amenity is the standard word for comfort-making extras.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tiện nghi
- Spanish
- comodidad
- Chinese
- 便利设施
- Japanese
- 設備
- Korean
- 편의시설
Etymology
Amenity came into English from French in the 14th century. It is related to Latin amœnitas, meaning pleasantness or agreeableness.
Common phrases
modern amenitiesbasic amenitieshotel amenitieslocal amenities
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is amenity a formal word?
- Yes, it is fairly formal. You often see it in hotel, housing, and business writing.
- What is the difference between amenity and facility?
- Amenity is a comfort or useful extra. Facility is often a building, service, or equipment needed for a purpose.
- Can I say 'amenities' in everyday English?
- Yes. The plural amenities is very common, especially in travel and property contexts.
- Does amenity mean luxury?
- Not exactly. An amenity may be basic, useful, or comfortable, but not necessarily luxurious.