different between activity vs facility

English

Etymology

From Middle French activité, from Latin activitas. Equivalent to active +? -ity.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /æk?t?.v?.ti/, /æk?t?.v?.ti?/, /æk?t?.v?.ti/
• Rhymes: -?v?ti

Noun

activity (countable and uncountable, plural activities)

1. (uncountable) The state or quality of being active; activeness.

2. (countable) Something done as an action or a movement.

3. (countable) Something done for pleasure or entertainment, especially one involving movement or an excursion.

4. (grammar, semantics) The lexical aspect (aktionsart) of verbs or predicates that change over time and have no natural end point.

Usage notes

• Adjectives often used with "activity": increased, decreased, high, low, volcanic, seismic, eruptive, intellectual, physical, mental, spiritual, muscular, cerebral, favorite, recreational, practical, cultural, artistic, literary, musical, political, diplomatic, military, domestic, voluntary, missionary, chemical, optical, productive, reproductive, industrial, commercial, etc.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:activity

Antonyms

• rest
• passivity

Derived terms

• activity book
• activity stream
• activity trap
• beehive of activity
• catalytic activity
• extravehicular activity
• hive of activity
• nonactivity
• optical activity
• overactivity
• radioactivity
• self-activity
• subactivity
• ultrahazardous activity
• underactivity
• zone of polarizing activity

Translations

Further reading

• activity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• activity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

From Middle French facilité, and its source, Latin facilit?s.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /f??s?l?ti/
• Rhymes: -?l?ti

Noun

facility (countable and uncountable, plural facilities)

1. The fact of being easy, or easily done; absence of difficulty, simplicity. [from 16th c.]
2. Dexterity of speech or action; skill, talent. [from 16th c.]

   The facility she shows in playing the violin is unrivalled.

3. The physical means or contrivances to make something (especially a public service) possible; the required equipment, infrastructure, location etc. [from 19th c.]

   Transport facilities in Bangkok are not sufficient to prevent frequent traffic collapses during rush hour.
4. An institution specially designed for a specific purpose, such as incarceration, military use, or scientific experimentation.
5. (Canada, US, in the plural) A toilet. [from 20th c.]
6. (Scotland, law) A condition of mental weakness less than idiocy, but enough to make a person easily persuaded to do something against their better interest.
7. (dated) Affability.

Derived terms

• correctional facility

Translations