Origin: Latin suffix -ence
Convenience has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
the quality of being useful and convenient
"they offered the convenience of an installment plan"
a toilet that is available to the public
"After hiking up the mountain, we finally found a convenience at the trailhead where we could use the restroom before continuing our climb."
a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
"The smartphone's voice-to-text feature proved to be such a convenience for dictating my meeting notes while driving."
The quality of being convenient.
In plain English: Convenience is how easy something is to use or get.
"The store is very close to my house, which is a great convenience for me."
Usage: Use convenience to describe how easy or suitable something is to use in a particular situation. It refers to the practical advantage gained from saving time or effort rather than comfort or luxury.
To make convenient
"The new app features were designed to convenience users by allowing them to pay bills instantly from their phones."
In plain English: To make something easier to use or access by changing how it is provided.
"The store does not have that item for sale, so you can buy it elsewhere for your convenience."
Usage: Although "convenience" can function as a verb meaning to make something more convenient, it is rarely used in modern English and often sounds awkward or pretentious. It is almost always better to use clearer alternatives like "facilitate," "simplify," or simply "make easier."
The word convenience comes from the Latin convenientia, meaning "suitability," which was formed from a verb describing things coming together or fitting well. It entered English as a doublet of the related word convenance.