# conduit

/ˈkɑnduɪt/ (US) · /kˈɒndjuːˌɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/conduit
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. physical pipe or tube

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a pipe, tube, or channel that carries water or protects electrical wires.

For teachers: a pipe, tube, or underground passage used for conveying fluids or protecting electrical cables.

- The workers laid a new plastic conduit to protect the internet cables underground.
- Engineers installed a reinforced steel conduit to house the high-voltage wiring, ensuring the system remained protected from environmental moisture.

Usage: Countable noun; often used in construction and engineering contexts.

### 2. a means of transmission

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

a person, organization, or thing that helps move information, money, or power from one place to another.

For teachers: a person or medium through which something, such as information or influence, is transmitted or distributed.

- The local charity acts as a conduit for donations to reach the families in need.
- The diplomat served as a vital conduit for communication between the two warring factions when official channels had been closed.

Usage: Often takes the preposition 'for' or 'between'.

### 3. financial intermediary

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a company or account used to move money between different financial institutions.

For teachers: an entity or financial structure through which investment funds or assets are channeled, often for tax or regulatory efficiency.

- The offshore company was used as a conduit for moving large sums of money.
- The investment bank established a special-purpose conduit to manage the securitized assets, isolating them from the parent company's balance sheet.

Teaching tip: In finance, this term often carries a neutral technical meaning, but in news reports, it can imply a lack of transparency.

## Examples

- The bank acts as a conduit for international payments.
- The charity served as a conduit for donations, ensuring that funds reached the local communities most affected by the drought.
- The offshore subsidiary functioned primarily as a financial conduit, allowing the parent company to move capital across borders while minimizing its immediate tax liabilities in the home country.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.