utilitatea

Utilitatea is a Romanian noun that denotes the quality of being useful or the usefulness of something. It can refer to the practical value of an object, action, or idea, or to the benefit gained from using it. In everyday language, utilitatea emphasizes function, practicality, and how effectively something solves a problem.

Etymology and usage: Utilitatea derives from Latin utilis or utilitas and is formed in Romanian with the abstract-noun suffix -itate. The definite form utilitatea translates to "the usefulness" or "the utility." The term is related to other Romance-language forms such as utilità or utilité, and to Romanian adjectives and verbs like util (useful) and a folosi (to use).

In economics, utility (utilitatea) refers to the satisfaction or benefit that a consumer derives from goods and services. It is a central concept in theories of consumer choice, with debates over whether utility is cardinal (measurable in units) or ordinal (only rank-based). Romanian terminology includes utilitatea marginală (marginal utility) and funcția utilității (utility function).

Beyond economics, utilitatea appears in discussions of public policy and ethics as the usefulness or welfare impact of policies and technologies. The concept is often contrasted with cost, risk, or harm, focusing on the practical value to individuals or society. Related philosophical traditions include utilitarianism, which evaluates actions by their overall usefulness or consequences.