closed circuit

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. a circuit without interruption, providing a continuous path through which a current can flow.

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closed circuit British  

noun

1. a complete electrical circuit through which current can flow when a voltage is applied Compare open circuit

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closed circuit Scientific  

1. An electric circuit through which current can flow in an uninterrupted path.

2. Compare open circuit

3. A television system in which the signal is usually sent by cable to a limited number of receivers.

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Other Word Forms

• closed-circuit adjective

Etymology

Origin of closed circuit

First recorded in 1820–30

Compare meaning

How does closed-circuit compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• open circuit vs. closed circuit

Example Sentences

The fun part of the casting process, especially when casting is a closed circuit and it’s a pre-existing group of people, is you start to unpack all the relationships, and the show emerges.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m in a little bit of a closed circuit.

From The Wall Street Journal

Perhaps that reinforces the author’s premise about “edited” memories: My recollection is that the fight, like the first, was available only on closed circuit—at select theaters and arenas, not family televisions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Arum, who had done this for years and thought even a $10 closed-circuit ticket would be a stretch, remembers laughing and saying “nobody would ever pay $25 for a closed circuit telecast.”

From Los Angeles Times

That is, the electricity that drives electromagnetism has no resistance, and constantly runs in a closed circuit without the supply of electricity.

From Science Daily