# siemens

/ˈsimənz/ (US) · /sˈiːmɛnz/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/siemens
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

the standard unit used to measure how easily electricity flows through a material. It is the opposite of an ohm, which measures resistance.

For teachers: the SI unit of electrical conductance, equivalent to one ampere per volt. It represents the reciprocal of the ohm.

## Examples

- The technician measured the conductance in siemens.
- In electrical engineering, the siemens is used to quantify how effectively a component allows current to pass, a property that is critical when designing high-efficiency power grids.

## Pitfalls

- Not "one siemen" but "one siemens" — The name of the unit is 'siemens' in both singular and plural forms; 'siemen' is not a word.

## Usage notes

- When used as a unit of measurement, the word is usually written in lowercase; the symbol is a capital 'S'.

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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.