# resistive

CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/resistive
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

related to slowing down electricity and turning it into heat. A resistive wire or heater gets hot when power flows through it.

For teachers: relating to or exhibiting electrical resistance, especially the conversion of electrical energy into heat by opposing current flow.

## Examples

- This heater uses a resistive wire to make heat.
- The phone uses a resistive screen that responds to pressure from a finger or stylus.
- Resistive heating converts almost all electrical energy into heat, which makes it simple but less efficient than a heat pump in mild weather.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies, as in 'resistive heating' or 'resistive touchscreen'.

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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.