electricity

noun

elec·​tric·​i·​ty i-ˌlek-ˈtri-sə-tē 

ē-,

-ˈtri-stē

plural electricities

1

a

: a fundamental form of energy observable in positive and negative forms that occurs naturally (as in lightning) or is produced (as in a generator) and that is expressed in terms of the movement and interaction of electrons

b

: electric current or power

2

: a science that deals with the phenomena and laws of electricity

3

: keen contagious excitement

could feel the electricity in the room

Examples of electricity in a Sentence

The electricity went off during the storm.

an old building with no plumbing or electricity

You could feel the electricity in the room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Most of the building damage from Friday’s quake was nonstructural, hitting partition walls, fixtures, electricity and plumbing, Alam said. —Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025

Energy Management Systems: A Path To Lower Operating Costs With commercial electricity rates rising nearly 15% between 2021 and 2024, energy management has become a business-critical function. —Jennifer Nuckles, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

With growing cyber threats from enemies foreign and domestic, combined with the increasing importance of electricity, natural gas, water, and communications to our daily lives, now is the time for utilities to invest in security resilience. —Brian Harrell, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025

Here’s one auction to watch if your car collection is in need of a jolt of electricity. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing electricity

• static electricity

Rhymes for electricity

• authenticity
• chromaticity
• concentricity
• domesticity
• eccentricity
• elasticity
• iconicity
• metallicity
• multiplicity
• specificity
• synchronicity
• analyticity

Kids Definition

electricity

noun

elec·​tric·​i·​ty i-ˌlek-ˈtris-ət-ē 

-ˈtris-tē

1

: a form of energy that is found in nature but that can be artificially produced by rubbing together two unlike things (as glass and silk), by the action of chemicals, or by means of a generator

2

: electric current

3

: great excitement

felt the electricity in the theater

Medical Definition

electricity

noun

elec·​tric·​i·​ty i-ˌlek-ˈtris-ət-ē, -ˈtris-tē 

plural electricities

1

a

: a fundamental entity of nature consisting of negative and positive kinds, observable in the attractions and repulsions of bodies electrified by friction and in natural phenomena (as lightning or the aurora borealis), and usually utilized in the form of electric currents

b

: electric current or power

2

: a science that deals with the phenomena and laws of electricity