conductor

noun

con·​duc·​tor kən-ˈdək-tər 

: one that conducts: such as

a

: guide

b

: a collector of fares in a public conveyance

a railroad conductor

c

: the leader of a musical ensemble

an orchestra conductor

d(1)

: a material or object that permits an electric current to flow easily

Copper wire is a good conductor.

compare insulator, semiconductor

(2)

: a material capable of transmitting another form of energy (such as heat or sound)

Aluminum is a conductor of heat.

conductorial

ˌkän-ˌdək-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

kən-

adjective

Examples of conductor in a Sentence

Metal is a good conductor of electricity.

Recent Examples on the Web

Superstar Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen is returning to the Los Angeles Philharmonic to take the new position of creative director beginning with the 2026-27 season, it was announced Tuesday. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025

Wearing a T-shirt, flannel and jeans, his frizzy hair poking from under the back and sides of a train-conductor cap, Young resembled his late-middle-aged self save for a noticeably paunchier belly, whiter sideburns and craggier face. —Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025

During the heyday of his musical career, Wachner was twice nominated for Grammy Awards for his work as a conductor. —Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025

This year’s inductees include Spanish singer-songwriter Enrique Bunbury; Colombian musician, songwriter and producer Andrés Castro; prolific Cuban songwriter Jorge Luis Piloto; Argentine pianist, composer, and conductor Lalo Schifrin (posthumous); and Mexican songwriter Mónica Vélez. —Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French conducteur "director, guide," borrowed from Medieval Latin conductor "employer, lessee, escort, guide," going back to Latin, "employer, contractor, lessee," from condūcere "to bring together, join, hire, accept a contract for" (Medieval Latin also "to lead, escort, provide a channel for [water]") + -tor, agent suffix — more at conduce

Note: Parallel to the Latinate form was Middle French conduiteur, Old French conduitour (from conduire "to guide, escort," going back to Latin condūcere), which was loaned into Middle English as conduytour. Compare conduit.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing conductor

• lightning conductor

Rhymes for conductor

• abductor
• constructor
• destructor
• inductor
• instructor
• semiconductor
• superconductor

Kids Definition

conductor

noun

con·​duc·​tor kən-ˈdək-tər 

1

: a person who collects fares in a public means of transportation (as a bus or railroad train)

2

: the leader of a musical group

3

: a substance or body that can allow electricity, heat, or sound to pass through it

Medical Definition

conductor

noun

con·​duc·​tor kən-ˈdək-tər 

1

a

: a material or object that permits an electric current to flow easily

b

: a material capable of transmitting another form of energy (as heat or sound)

2

: a bodily part (as a nerve fiber) that transmits excitation