convenience
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the quality of being easy to use or useful for your needs.
the state or quality of being useful, easy, or suitable for a particular purpose without causing difficulty.
Simple“I love the convenience of living so close to the train station.”
In context“The modern consumer often prioritises convenience over price, leading to a significant rise in the popularity of pre-packaged meal kits.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun in this sense.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
something that makes your life easier or saves you time.
a device, service, or arrangement that contributes to an individual's comfort or ease of living.
Simple“The apartment has all the modern conveniences, including a dishwasher and a dryer.”
In context“The hotel provides various conveniences for business travellers, such as high-speed internet and a twenty-four-hour laundry service.”
UsageCommonly used in the plural form 'conveniences'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a time that works well for you.
a time or situation that is suitable or advantageous for someone.
Simple“Please call me back at your earliest convenience to discuss the plan.”
In context“The manager requested that the staff review the new safety protocols at their earliest convenience to ensure compliance before the audit.”
UsageFrequently appears in the phrase 'at your earliest convenience'.
Teacher's tipThis is a standard polite phrase in business emails meaning 'as soon as you can'.
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
a public toilet.
a public lavatory or restroom facility.
Simple“Is there a public convenience near the park entrance?”
In context“The local council allocated funds to renovate the public conveniences in the town centre, citing the need for better accessibility for disabled visitors.”
UsageOften used in the full phrase 'public convenience'.
Teacher's tipThis is a very formal or slightly old-fashioned way to refer to a public toilet in the UK.
“Some, like Enrico, 28, said they loved the convenience of same-day collection, and felt nostalgic towards a brand which unlocked fond childhood memories.”
“Convenience plays a big role, she says; vaccination rates are highest when parents regularly interact with medics, who can remind them to get their children jabbed and tell them exactly where to do it.”
Borrowed from Latin convenientia, from conveniens (“suitable”), present participle of convenire (“to come together, suit”). Doublet of convenance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.