Word
conductivity
Phoneticscon·duc·tiv·i·ty
US/ˌkɑnˌdəkˈtɪvəti/
UK/kɒndəktˈɪvɪti/
Definition
n. the ability of a material to let heat or electricity pass through it. Metals usually have high levels of this.
n. the degree to which a specified material conducts electricity or heat. Often expressed as a physical property that varies depending on temperature and material purity.
Examples
“Copper is used in wires because of its high conductivity.”
“The technician measured the water's electrical conductivity to check for the presence of dissolved salts and minerals.”
“In semiconductor manufacturing, controlling the conductivity of silicon through doping is essential for creating the transistors that power modern computing devices.”
Examples
simple
“Copper is used in wires because of its high conductivity.”
contextual
“The technician measured the water's electrical conductivity to check for the presence of dissolved salts and minerals.”
complex
“In semiconductor manufacturing, controlling the conductivity of silicon through doping is essential for creating the transistors that power modern computing devices.”
Usage
Uncountable in its general sense; can be used with 'high', 'low', or 'thermal' to specify the type of energy transfer.
Real-World Examples
Common in science writing
“Diamond is one of the hardest known materials, with high thermal conductivity, properties that make it valuable for technologies that operate under extreme conditions.” “This process increases the material's electrical conductivity and generates the sensor signal.” Etymology
From conductive + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/conductivity