facility

From Middle French facilité, and its source, Latin facilitās.

• IPA^(key): /fəˈsɪlɪti/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪlɪti

facility (countable and uncountable, plural facilities)

1. The fact of being easy, or easily done; absence of difficulty, simplicity. [from 16th c.]
   • 1603, John Florio, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:

     Clytomachus affirmed, that he could never understand by the writings of Carneades, what opinion he was of. Why hath Epicurus interdicted facility unto his Sectaries?

2. Dexterity of speech or action; skill, talent. [from 16th c.]

   The facility she shows in playing the violin is unrivalled.

3. The physical means or contrivances to make something (especially a public service) possible; the required equipment, infrastructure, location etc. [from 19th c.]

   Transport facilities in Bangkok are not sufficient to prevent frequent traffic collapses during rush hour.

   • 2006, Edwin Black, chapter 1, in Internal Combustion:

     As though on an incendiary rampage, the fires systematically devoured the contents of Edison's headquarters and facilities.

4. An institution specially designed for a specific purpose, such as incarceration, military use, or scientific experimentation.
5. (Canada, US, in the plural) A toilet. [from 20th c.]
6. (Scotland, law) A condition of mental weakness short of idiocy, but enough to make a person easily persuaded to do something against their better interest.
7. (dated) Affability.

• correctional facility