switchgear

American

[swich-geer] / ˈswɪtʃˌgɪər /

Or switch gear

noun

Electricity.

switching equipment used in an electric power station.

switchgear British

/ ˈswɪtʃˌɡɪə /

noun

electrical engineering any of several devices used for opening and closing electric circuits, esp those that pass high currents

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of switchgear

First recorded in 1900–05; switch + gear

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.

See Examples For:

switchgear

The Eaton catalog is unglamorous: switchgear, circuit breakers, power-distribution units.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026

Formed as a private-equity roll-up by Neos Partners, the Dayton, Minnesota-based company manufactures transformers, medium-voltage switchgear, transfer switches, panelboards, and other equipment to move electricity from substations into data centers and utilities.

From Barron's ● Mar. 2, 2026

Lead times for electrical generators, switchgear and other equipment have in some cases grown by months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 24, 2025

Carrillo said damage to an electrical line caused power to go out for some residents and that a new switchgear panel has to be replaced before restoring power.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2025

It is primarily used in electrical circuit breakers and high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear.

From Scientific American ● Mar. 13, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023