Jump To:

• short circuit
  short circuit

  noun

  an abnormal, usually unintentional condition of relatively low resistance between two points of different potential in a circuit, usually resulting in a flow of excess current.
• short-circuit
  short-circuit

  verb (used with object)

short circuit

¹ American  

noun

Electricity.

1. Also called short.  an abnormal, usually unintentional condition of relatively low resistance between two points of different potential in a circuit, usually resulting in a flow of excess current.

---

short-circuit ² American  

[shawrt-sur-kit] / ˌʃɔrtˈsɜr kɪt /

verb (used with object)

short-circuits, present (3rd person singular) short-circuited, past participle, past short-circuiting present participle

1. Electricity.

   1. to make (an appliance, switch, etc.) inoperable by establishing a short circuit in.

   2. to carry (a current) as a short circuit.

2. to bypass, impede, hinder, or frustrate.

   Bad weather short-circuited my vacation plans.

---

verb (used without object)

short-circuits, present (3rd person singular) short-circuited, past participle, past short-circuiting present participle

1. Electricity. to form a short circuit or become inoperable due to a short circuit.

short circuit British  

noun

1. a faulty or accidental connection between two points of different potential in an electric circuit, bypassing the load and establishing a path of low resistance through which an excessive current can flow. It can cause damage to the components if the circuit is not protected by a fuse

---

verb

1. to develop or cause to develop a short circuit

2. (tr) to bypass (a procedure, regulation, etc)

3. (tr) to hinder or frustrate (plans, etc)

short circuit Scientific  

/ shôrt /

1. An electrical path in a circuit that causes most of the current to flow around or away from some other path in the circuit. Accidental short circuits, especially between the high and low voltages of a power supply, can cause very strong current to flow, possibly damaging or overheating the circuit.

---

short circuit Cultural  

1. An electrical circuit in which a path of very low resistance has been opened, usually accidentally. When the resistance drops, the electric current (see also current) in the circuit becomes very high and can cause damage to the circuit and start fires.

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• short-circuiting
  present
• short-circuited
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• short-circuit
  simple
• short-circuits
  simple
• have short-circuited
  perfect
• has short-circuited
  perfect
• are short-circuiting
  progressive
• am short-circuiting
  progressive
• is short-circuiting
  progressive
• have been short-circuiting
  perfect progressive
• has been short-circuiting
  perfect progressive

Past

• short-circuited
  simple
• had short-circuited
  perfect
• was short-circuiting
  progressive
• were short-circuiting
  progressive
• had been short-circuiting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will short-circuit
  simple
• will have short-circuited
  perfect
• will be short-circuiting
  progressive
• will have been short-circuiting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of short circuit¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Origin of short-circuit²

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Adams pointed to social media platforms like X as evidence that machines “can easily short circuit our sense of human accountability and responsibility.”

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2026

The fire may have been caused by a short circuit, he said.

From Barron's • Oct. 12, 2025

“Now they want to short circuit the whole process,” McGoldrick added.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2025

Local officials believe an electrical short circuit or another fault in a machine used to increase the level of oxygen in the ward sparked the fire.

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2024

In the midst of one prayer, smoke issued from the lectern and I thought we had gone too far but it turned out to be a short circuit.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• ditch
• duck
• elude
• escape
• evade
• fend off
• shuffle
• sidestep
• skirt