facility

/fəˈsɪləti/
ability to do something easily

She has a natural facility for languages.

She has a natural ability to learn languages easily.


general

A place, amenity, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose.

The new sports facility includes a gym, pool, and tennis courts.

The new sports complex offers a gym, swimming pool, and tennis courts.

Often used in contexts like public services, education, or sports.

general

A natural ability to do something with ease.

His facility with numbers made him an excellent accountant.

His natural skill with numbers made him a great accountant.

Commonly used to describe innate talent or proficiency.

Engineering
technical

A feature or system designed to serve a specific function.

The facility includes backup power systems in case of outages.

The installation has redundant power systems to prevent failures.

Used in technical or industrial contexts to describe infrastructure.

Collocations

sports facilitya place for sports activitiestraining facilitya center for learning and practicewith facilityeasily or effortlessly

Related Phrases

facility managementphrase
the coordination of infrastructure and services

Pro Tip

Distinguish senses

If 'facility' refers to a place (e.g., 'medical facility'), it’s a noun for a building or area. If it describes ability (e.g., 'facility with languages'), it’s a noun for skill.

Gold Rule

Context is key

Always check whether 'facility' refers to a physical space or an innate ability. Physical spaces often collocate with words like 'building,' 'center,' or 'complex,' while abilities pair with 'skill,' 'talent,' or 'aptitude.'

Word Origin

From Old French *facilité* (ease), from Latin *facilitas* (ease, readiness), from *facilis* (easy), derived from *facere* (to do, make).

Usage Notes

The word can refer to both physical spaces and innate abilities. Context determines the meaning—check surrounding words for clues.

Word Breakdown

facil-
easy (from Latin *facilis*)
root
+
-ity
state or quality of
suffix
English Dictionary