conductivity

American  

[kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee] / ˌkɒn dʌkˈtɪv ɪ ti /

noun

• conductivities
  plural

1. Physics. the property or power of conducting heat, electricity, or sound.

2. 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

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conductivity British  

/ ˌkɒndʌkˈtɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. Also called: conduction.  the property of transmitting heat, electricity, or sound

2.  κ. 

   1. a measure of the ability of a substance to conduct electricity; the reciprocal of resistivity

   2. 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

3. See thermal conductivity

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conductivity Scientific  

/ kŏn′dŭk-tĭv′ĭ-tē /

1. The ability to transfer heat, electricity, or sound by conduction.

2. See conductance

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• conductivities
  plural

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

conductivity conductivities

For example, graphene and molybdenum dioxide nanoparticles are commonly used in gas sensors because their electrical conductivity changes when they absorb gases.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

It does have some more engineering problems than copper, including poorer conductivity, corrosion, and brittleness.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Tesla has been a leader in this trend, for instance, securing patents on aluminum alloys with high electrical conductivity External link.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

These excitations are especially valuable because they help protect electrical conductivity from disruptive noise and interference.

From Science Daily ● May 13, 2026

Your sweat contains salts, which increase electrical conductivity.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

Although some perovskite-related dual-ion conducting materials such as Ba7Nb4MoO20 have been reported, their conductivities are not high enough for practical applications, and their underlying conducting mechanisms are not well understood.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 17, 2023

"The present findings of high conductivities and unique ion migration mechanisms in Ba7Nb3.8Mo1.2O20.1 will help the development of science and engineering of oxide-ion, proton, and dual-ion conductors," concludes a hopeful Prof. Yashima.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 17, 2023

The process involves changing the electrical conductivities of semiconductors such as silicon by adding impurities.

From Nature ● Jan. 21, 2020

Molten salts are used because they possess a number of beneficial properties, including high heat capacities and thermal conductivities.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Other physical properties of these solutions, such as density, colour, optical rotatory power, &c., like the conductivities, are additive, i.e. can be calculated by adding together the corresponding properties of the parts.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various

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