Amenities — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun plural noun phrase /ə-ˈme-nə-tē/ ame·ni·ty

Meaning & Definition of Amenities

Amenities (noun)

  1. something that helps to provide comfort, convenience, or enjoyment
  2. something (such as a conventional social gesture) that promotes smoothness or pleasantness in social relationships
  3. the quality of being pleasant or agreeable

Amenities (plural noun)

  1. things considered to be essential to make life easier and more pleasant

Amenities (phrase)

  1. to behave with politeness

Amenities (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners

    "an unhappy, bickering couple who, at least in public, observe all the amenities of polite behavior"

    similar: attentions, civilities, courtesies, formalities, gestures, pleasantries
    related: honors, ceremonies, observances, rites, rituals, decorums, etiquettes, forms, manners, mores, proprieties, addresses, devoirs, greetings, regards, respects, favors, graces, protocols, rules

  2. something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary

    "we don't need an expensive hotel with all the amenities—just a place to sleep"

    similar: comforts, extras, frills, indulgences, luxuries, superfluities
    related: extravagances, nonessentials, dainties, delicacies, niceties, treats, accessories, accoutrements, bells and whistles, options
    opposite: basics, essentials, fundamentals, musts, necessities, requirements

  3. something that adds to one's ease of living

    "that campground has so many of the amenities of home that it is best left to those who only like to pretend they are camping"

    similar: accommodations, comforts, conveniences, creature comforts, luxuries, mod cons (chiefly British), niceties
    related: bonuses, extras, benefits, help, services, anodynes, solaces, delights, indulgences, joys, pleasures
    opposite: burdens, millstones, weights

Related Entry: Amenity (noun)

Amenity is a different word from Amenities. The synonyms below are for amenity, not for amenities.

  1. an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners

    "an unhappy, bickering couple who, at least in public, observe all the amenities of polite behavior"

    similar: attention, civility, courtesy, formality, gesture, pleasantry, politeness
    related: honors, ceremony, observance, rite, ritual, decorum, etiquette, form, manners, mores, proprieties, addresses, devoirs, greetings, regards, respects, favor, grace, kindliness, kindness, protocol, rules

  2. something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary

    "we don't need an expensive hotel with all the amenities—just a place to sleep"

    similar: comfort, extra, frill, indulgence, luxury, superfluity
    related: extravagance, nonessential, dainty, delicacy, nicety, treat, accessory, accoutrement, bells and whistles, option
    opposite: basic, essential, fundamental, must, necessity, requirement

  3. something that adds to one's ease of living

    "that campground has so many of the amenities of home that it is best left to those who only like to pretend they are camping"

    similar: accommodation, comfort, convenience, creature comfort, luxury, mod con (chiefly British), nicety
    related: bonus, extra, benefit, help, service, anodyne, solace, delight, indulgence, joy, pleasure
    opposite: burden, millstone, weight

  4. the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others

    "at the nursing home Mr. Crawford's natural amenity charms the ladies and puts the men at ease"

    similar: affability, agreeability, agreeableness, amiability, amiableness, geniality, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, graciousness, niceness, personableness, pleasantness, sweetness
    related: amenability, complaisance, mellowness, sweetness and light, amicability, amicableness, amity, cordiality, empressement, friendliness, gemütlichkeit, benignity, gentleness, kindliness, kindness, cheerfulness, cheeriness, sunniness, civility, comity, considerateness, consideration, courteousness, courtesy, politeness, thoughtfulness, attractiveness, delightfulness, enjoyableness, likability, likableness, pleasingness
    opposite: disagreeableness, unpleasantness
    near: boorishness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, ungraciousness, biliousness, cantankerousness, churlishness, crankiness, fussiness, grouchiness, grumpiness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, peevishness, petulance, testiness, contentiousness, contrariness, orneriness, quarrelsomeness, querulousness, hostility, unfriendliness, sourness, vinegar

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Amenities

The most common words with a similar meaning to Amenities:

Chiefly British: mod cons
attentions, civilities, courtesies, formalities, gestures, pleasantries, comforts, extras, frills, indulgences, luxuries, superfluities, accommodations, conveniences, creature comforts, niceties

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Amenities

Words with the opposite meaning of Amenities:

basics, essentials, fundamentals, musts, necessities, requirements, burdens, millstones, weights

Related Words for Amenities

honors, ceremonies, observances, rites, rituals, decorums, etiquettes, forms, manners, mores, proprieties, addresses, devoirs, greetings, regards, respects, favors, graces, protocols, rules, extravagances, nonessentials, dainties, delicacies, treats, accessories, accoutrements, bells and whistles, options, bonuses

Origin & Etymology of Amenities

Middle English amenite, from Latin amoenitat-, amoenitas, from amoenus pleasant

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Amenities

basic amenities, observe the social amenities

Frequently Asked Questions about Amenities

What does "Amenities" mean?

"Amenities" means something that helps to provide comfort, convenience, or enjoyment. As an a noun, a plural noun and a phrase, it is defined as: something that helps to provide comfort, convenience, or enjoyment. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Amenities"?

Other words for "Amenities" include attentions, civilities, courtesies, formalities, gestures, pleasantries, comforts and extras. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Amenities" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Amenities"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Amenities". Common alternatives include attentions, civilities, courtesies, formalities, gestures, pleasantries, comforts, extras, frills and indulgences.

What is the opposite of "Amenities"?

Antonyms of "Amenities" include basics, essentials, fundamentals, musts, necessities, requirements, burdens and millstones.

How do you use "Amenities" in a sentence?

Examples of "Amenities" in a sentence: "an unhappy, bickering couple who, at least in public, observe all the amenities of polite behavior"; "we don't need an expensive hotel with all the amenities—just a place to sleep"; "that campground has so many of the amenities of home that it is best left to those who only like to pretend they are camping".

Is "Amenities" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Amenities" can be used as a noun, a plural noun and a phrase, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Amenities"?

"Amenities" is pronounced /ə-ˈme-nə-tē/ and divided into syllables as ame·ni·ty.

What is the origin of the word "Amenities"?

"Amenities" comes from Middle English amenite, from Latin amoenitat-, amoenitas, from amoenus pleasant. First known use: 14th century.