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• electric current
  electric current

  noun

  the time rate of flow of electric charge, in the direction that a positive moving charge would take and having magnitude equal to the quantity of charge per unit time: measured in amperes.
• current, electric
  current, electric

  The flow of electrical charge, usually electrons. (See Benjamin Franklin.)

electric current

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. the time rate of flow of electric charge, in the direction that a positive moving charge would take and having magnitude equal to the quantity of charge per unit time: measured in amperes.

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electric current British  

noun

1. another name for current

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current, electric ¹ Cultural  

1. The flow of electrical charge, usually electrons. (See Benjamin Franklin.)

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current, electric ² Cultural  

1. The flow of large numbers of electrons through a conductor. (See alternating current, conduction, and direct current.)

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Etymology

Origin of electric current

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

electric current current, electric

They are electrical insulators, meaning they cannot easily carry electric current.

From Science Daily ● May 18, 2026

"Today, the kilogram is defined on the basis of fundamental constants using an electromechanical device that compares electric current to mass," St-Jean explained.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 1, 2026

If it’s any smaller than that, the electric current flowing through the chip just won’t stay in its lanes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

What made that possible was a “pickup,” essentially a magnet mounted under the strings that turned vibrations into an electric current that connects to an amplifier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026

Suddenly, he jerked upright as if an electric current had been applied to his limbs.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Ford this week is also idling its Dearborn, Mich., plant that produces its current electric pickup, the F-150 Lightning, because of the aluminum issue, Reuters reported last week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025

All-solid-state batteries could lead to cars that are safer than current electric or internal combustion models, but creating a strategy to bypass the drawbacks was laborious, Wang said.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2023

The potential of agrivoltaic-based solar energy production in Canada far outstrips current electric demand.

From Salon ● May 3, 2023

That’s a nearly tenfold increase over current electric vehicle sales.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 17, 2023

Electric Motor.—The direct current electric motor depends for its action on the principle that likes repel, and unlikes attract.

From Practical Mechanics for Boys by Zerbe, James Slough