conductivity

American  

[kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee] / ˌkɒn dʌkˈtɪv ɪ ti /

noun

• conductivities
  plural

1. Physics. the property or power of conducting heat, electricity, or sound.

2. Also called specific conductance. Electricity. a measure of the ability of a given substance to conduct electric current, equal to the reciprocal of the resistance of the substance. σ

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conductivity British  

/ ˌkɒndʌkˈtɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. Also called: conduction. the property of transmitting heat, electricity, or sound

2. κ.

   1. a measure of the ability of a substance to conduct electricity; the reciprocal of resistivity

   2. Formerly called: specific conductance. in the case of a solution, the electrolytic conductivity is the current density divided by the electric field strength, measured in siemens per metre

3. See thermal conductivity

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conductivity Scientific  

/ kŏn′dŭk-tĭv′ĭ-tē /

1. The ability to transfer heat, electricity, or sound by conduction.

2. See conductance

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• conductivities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of conductivity

First recorded in 1830–40; conductive + -ity

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Explanation

A material's conductivity is the extent that it allows an electric current to flow through it. Metal generally has high conductivity. In physics, the noun conductivity is used for the rate or degree that electricity, heat, or sound travels through something. So materials with high conductivity allow heat to flow quickly and completely through them. These substances are also known as conductors. Both words are rooted in the Latin conducere, "to lead or bring together."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

conductivity conductivities

To solve this problem, the researchers developed a new theoretical framework that includes the electrical conductivity of the atmosphere.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026

Tesla has been a leader in this trend, for instance, securing patents on aluminum alloys with high electrical conductivity External link.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

It does have some more engineering problems than copper, including poorer conductivity, corrosion, and brittleness.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

These excitations are especially valuable because they help protect electrical conductivity from disruptive noise and interference.

From Science Daily ● May 13, 2026

Of course, quasi-religious talk about mind control is more appealing than a discussion of heat content and conductivity.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Compared with previous designs, the material can achieve a much broader range of thermal conductivities, closely approaching the properties predicted to be necessary for ideal thermal cloaking.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026

Although some perovskite-related dual-ion conducting materials such as Ba7Nb4MoO20 have been reported, their conductivities are not high enough for practical applications, and their underlying conducting mechanisms are not well understood.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 17, 2023

The process involves changing the electrical conductivities of semiconductors such as silicon by adding impurities.

From Nature ● Jan. 21, 2020

Unconsolidated gravels, highly fractured and dissolved rocks, and well-sorted sandstones have high hydraulic conductivities.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

In fact, the joint conductivity will be the sum of the two separate conductivities.

From Hawkins Electrical Guide, Number One Questions, Answers, & Illustrations, A Progressive Course of Study for Engineers, Electricians, Students and Those Desiring to acquire a Working Knowledge of Electricity and its Applications by Nehemiah Hawkins

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