noun
-
the design of an electrical circuit
-
the system of circuits used in an electronic device
Etymology
Origin of circuitry
Explanation
Circuitry is a network of interconnected paths through which electricity flows, especially in a computer or other electronic device. It's a bit like the electrical version of the body's circulatory system. Circuitry can refer to the actual electronic components that direct and control the flow of electricity in a device or to the detailed plans for an electrical circuit or system of circuits. Each electrical circuit has a source of electrical power (such as a battery), a conductive pathway (such as a wire), and a load that is being powered by the electricity. A switch is opened or closed to start or stop the flow. A device's circuitry is made up of all the circuits within it as well as the pieces connecting them.
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.
To investigate how the circuitry works, the team studied mice using electrodes implanted in their brains.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
They moved away from etching circuitry onto a single piece of expensive silicon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
These videos, in particular, activate the reward circuitry of the brain with their novel, engaging and effortless nature, leading to instant and constant gratification.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
This reward circuitry is the part of the brain that is activated when we enjoy and remember good things, like tasty food or praise.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
The neurochemistry of the brain is astonishingly busy, the circuitry of a machine more wonderful than any devised by humans.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
