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amenity

uh-MEE-nuh-tee /əˈmiːnəti/

nounB2TOEFLIELTSSATGRE

formalneutral

A desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place that provides comfort, convenience, or pleasure.

Usually refers to extra conveniences provided in residential spaces, such as laundromats, gyms, study lounges, or high-speed Wi-Fi.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'amoenitas' (pleasantness), rooted in 'amoenus' (delightful to the senses). In 18th-century English, it described polite manners, but evolved by the 20th century to designate physical conveniences in housing.

Word relationships

facility: 'Facility' emphasizes practical functional utility (e.g., washing machines), whereas 'amenity' emphasizes added comfort and convenience.
feature: 'Feature' is broader and can refer to any distinct aspect of a building.

drawback: A disadvantage or undesirable feature of a property.
inconvenience: Something that causes discomfort or difficulty.

Commonly confused with

amity: 'Amity' means friendly relations between nations or people, while 'amenity' means a helpful feature or convenience.

Word family

amenities (noun): Plural form commonly used in real estate listings.

Collocations

basic amenity
luxurious amenity
building amenity
amenity fee

Example sentences

"The modern student complex offers luxury amenities including a swimming pool and 24-hour study lounges." Real estate listing
"Access to reliable Wi-Fi is no longer considered a luxury amenity but a core academic necessity." University feature article

Memory hook

Amenities make life pleasant and EASY. Amenity = Agreeable feature.

When not to use

Do not use for basic core necessities like air to breathe or floor structural integrity.

Fun facts

In property law, an 'incidental amenity' refers to light and air access surrounding a physical building.