conductivity
Americannoun
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Physics. the property or power of conducting heat, electricity, or sound.
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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
noun
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Also called: conduction. the property of transmitting heat, electricity, or sound
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κ.
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a measure of the ability of a substance to conduct electricity; the reciprocal of resistivity
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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
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Etymology
Origin of conductivity
First recorded in 1830–40; conductive + -ity
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."
Vocabulary lists containing conductivity
Lead the Way: Duc and Duct
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ACT Vocabulary List
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Chemistry - Introductory
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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.
In this state, gas becomes ionized, meaning electrons and ions move freely and create unique properties such as electrical conductivity.
From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026
As electrical conductivity rose, thermal conductivity dropped, and vice versa.
From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026
To find a formula that balanced clarity and conductivity, Desai tested many combinations through trial and error.
From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026
Ethanolamine provided the desired conductivity and worked well within the polish, but it has some toxicity concerns.
From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 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
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.
