Home › Demographics & Urban Studies › Civic Infrastructure & Utilities › amenity

amenity

uh-MEE-nuh-tee /əˈmiː.nə.ti/

nounB2SATTOEFLIELTS

GeneralFormalReal Estate

A desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place that adds to comfort or convenience.

Implies extra comfort, enjoyment, or convenience rather than absolute basic survival necessity.

The story behind the word. Originating from the Latin 'amoenus' meaning delightful or agreeable, the word moved into Middle French as 'aménité' before entering English in the 14th century to describe pleasant physical environment or climate.

Word relationships

convenience: Focuses on saving effort or time rather than providing comfort or aesthetic pleasure.
facility: A broader term for any building or place provided for a specific purpose.

drawback: A feature that causes disadvantage or inconvenience.
nuisance: A person, thing, or circumstance causing irritation or discomfort.

Commonly confused with

utility: A utility is an essential basic service like electricity or water; an amenity is an added feature for comfort or pleasure.

Word family

amenable (adjective): Open and responsive to suggestion (distantly linked via Latin roots).

Collocations

basic amenities
modern amenities
public amenities
luxury amenities

Example sentences

"The apartment complex offers an impressive array of amenities, including a swimming pool and gym." Real Estate
"Access to local amenities such as libraries and parks greatly improves quality of life in residential neighborhoods." Urban Planning

Memory hook

AMENity: You say 'Amen!' when you see nice luxury features like a heated pool. Extra features for comfort and joy.

When not to use

Do not use for absolute survival bare necessities like oxygen or clean drinking water in emergency aid context.

Fun facts

In urban economics, 'social amenities' include low crime rates and good schools, which directly boost local property values.