electric
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to, derived from, produced by, or involving electricity.
an electric shock.
-
producing, transmitting, or operated by electric currents.
an electric bell;
electric cord.
-
electrifying; thrilling; exciting; stirring.
The atmosphere was electric with excitement.
- Antonyms:
- prosaic, uninspired, dull
-
(of a musical instrument)
-
producing sound by electrical or electronic means.
an electric piano.
-
equipped with connections to an amplifier-loudspeaker system.
an electric violin.
-
noun
-
Railroads.
-
an electric locomotive.
-
Informal. a railroad operated by electricity.
-
-
electricity.
residential users of gas and electric.
-
something, as an appliance, vehicle, or toy, operated by electricity.
-
Archaic. a substance that is a nonconductor of electricity, as glass or amber, used to store or to excite an electric charge.
adjective
-
of, derived from, produced by, producing, transmitting, or powered by electricity
electric current
an electric cord
an electric blanket
an electric fence
an electric fire
-
(of a musical instrument) amplified electronically
an electric guitar
an electric mandolin
-
very tense or exciting; emotionally charged
an electric atmosphere
noun
-
informal an electric train, car, etc
-
informal electricity or electrical power
-
(plural) an electric circuit or electric appliances
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of electric
First recorded in 1640–50; from New Latin electricus, from Latin ēlectr(um) “amber” ( see electrum) + -icus -ic
Explanation
Things that are electric are either powered by electricity — like a battery-operated flashlight — or produce or transmit electricity — like an electric generator. The word electric, indicating something charged with electricity, was used long before electricity was fully understood or harnessed as a form of power in the nineteenth century. In the seventeenth century, for example, materials like wool that produced sparks of static electricity when rubbed were termed electric by scientists, and the figurative meaning of the word was also used. Figuratively, electric can describe something exciting or brightly colored, as in "electric atmosphere" or "electric green."
Vocabulary lists containing electric
Blue
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Waves and Wave Properties - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Waves and Wave Properties - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Law enforcement officials say parents sometimes buy electric motorcycles for their children assuming they are like e-bikes, but e-motorcycles can reach far higher speeds than regular e-bikes and require a driver’s license.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Alternatively, whip the mixture with an electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
The Polestar 3 model is built at Volvo’s plant in Charleston, S.C., and produced on the same platform as Volvo’s fully electric EX90 SUV.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Switching a diesel bus over to electric can save between $73,000 and $173,000 per unit over its lifetime in fuel and maintenance costs, in addition to cutting emissions.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
And bit by bit, some underground living quarters, particularly those occupied by officers, were outfitted with such domestic comforts as electric lights, plank floors, fixed bedsteads, even carpets and pictures.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
