conduct

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noun con·duct \ ˈkän-(ˌ)dəkt \

Definition of conduct

1 obsolete :escort, guide

2 :the act, manner, or process of carrying on :management

praised for his conduct of the campaign

3 :a mode or standard of personal behavior especially as based on moral principles

questionable conduct

See conduct defined for English-language learners

See conduct defined for kids

Examples of conduct in a Sentence

A panel investigated her conduct and she was subsequently fired.
the President was happy to leave the conduct of foreign affairs to his secretary of state

Recent Examples of conduct from the Web

The decision, which came after a hearing Wednesday, means the fraternity’s suspension will be lifted during the university’s conduct review process, spokeswoman Courtney Gilmartin said.

— annie martin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UCF lifts suspension of ATO fraternity," 24 Aug. 2017
Over the weekend, two members of the Kennedy family were allegedly arrested in Hyannis, Massachusetts for disorderly conduct.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "Two Members of the Kennedy Family Were Reportedly Arrested on Cape Cod Over the Weekend," 21 Aug. 2017
Professional respectful and discreet conduct expected.

— gabriella paiella, The Cut, "People Are Really Desperate to Have Eclipse Sex," 21 Aug. 2017
The Torah's sympathetic attitude toward ecology surfaces in a law legislating conduct during war.

— rabbi avi weiss, Jewish Journal, "Weiss: Each one of us is like the tree of the field," 21 Aug. 2017
Watson was able to negotiate a plea bargain that reduced the felony charges to misdemeanors: disorderly conduct and possession of a handgun by a person under 18.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Once 'labeled a menace to society,' Louisville football's Kemari Averett now a rising star," 17 Aug. 2017
The incident comes after drones have been used to monitor military bases, conduct acts of sabotage, and even kill.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Amateur Drone Lands on the U.K.'s New Aircraft Carrier, No One Even Notices," 14 Aug. 2017
Meyer was charged with obstructing police and disorderly conduct.

— kevin grasha, Cincinnati.com, "2 sisters addicted to heroin; 1 died after sister 'provided' drug," 7 Aug. 2017
Mackenzie was fired for a personal conduct matter, a spokesman for the firm said without elaborating.

— neil callanan, Bloomberg.com, "AA Fires Executive Chairman Mackenzie for ‘Gross Misconduct’," 1 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conduct.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of conduct

Middle English, from Medieval Latin conductus, from Latin conducere — see conduce

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

conduct Synonyms

Synonyms

administration, care, charge, control, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision

Related Words

generalship, leadership, rulership; agency; aegis (also egis), custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward; engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation; coadministration, codirection, comanagement

conduct

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verb con·duct \ kən-ˈdəkt also ˈkän-ˌdəkt \

Definition of conduct

transitive verb

1 :to bring by or as if by leading :guide

conduct tourists through a museum

2 a :to lead from a position of command

conduct a siege

conduct a class

b :to direct or take part in the operation or management of

conduct an experiment

conduct a business

conduct an investigation

c :to direct the performance of

conduct an orchestra

conduct an opera

3 a :to convey in a channel

b :to act as a medium for conveying or transmitting

Metals conduct electricity well.

4 :to cause (oneself) to act or behave in a particular and especially in a controlled manner

conducted herself in a professional manner

intransitive verb

1 of a road or passage :to show the way :lead

2 a :to act as leader or director

b :to have the quality of transmitting light, heat, sound, or electricity

—

conductibility

play \kən-ˌdək-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

conductible

play \kən-ˈdək-tə-bəl\ adjective

See conduct defined for English-language learners

Examples of conduct in a Sentence

The police are conducting an investigation into last week's robbery.
I like the way the company conducts business.
The magazine conducted a survey.
Who will be conducting the meeting?
The committee is expected to conduct hearings in May.
He conducts the choir with great skill and emotion.
conducting the music of Mozart
Our guide slowly conducted us through the museum.
Our guide conducted us along the path.

Recent Examples of conduct from the Web

The focus group, conducted by Peter D. Hart, a veteran pollster, was commissioned by Emory University and featured five Democrats, four independents and three Republicans.

— maggie haberman, New York Times, "Trump Voters Growing Impatient With the President, Focus Group Reveals," 30 Aug. 2017
The aggressive launch over the territory of a close U.S. ally sent a clear message of defiance as Washington and South Korea conduct war games nearby.

— darlene superville, The Seattle Times, "Trump: ‘All options are on the table’ after NK missile test," 29 Aug. 2017
Despite internal research warning that climate change is real and a threat to its business, Exxon Mobil conducted a huge campaign to sow doubt about climate change.

— the tylt, AL.com, "Should Exxon Mobil be held responsible for misleading the public about climate change?," 29 Aug. 2017
In addition, the National Institutes of Health has conducted a first trial of a third potential vaccine.

— marisa taylor, Kaiser Health News, "Offshore Human Testing Of Herpes Vaccine Stokes Debate Over U.S. Safety Rules," 28 Aug. 2017
The Glendale Police Department conducted the sweep on Saturday, serving 21 warrants for DUI offenses, reckless driving and suspended licenses.

— andy nguyen, Glendale News-Press, "10 arrested in Glendale warrant sweep," 28 Aug. 2017
The NSC will conduct a rally from 4 to 5 p.m. at its headquarters, 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "Overdose Awareness Day is Aug. 31," 24 Aug. 2017
A study conducted by financial research firm Raymond James in December 2016 found that 52 percent of people start their online buying processes at Amazon, as opposed to a search engine, up from 38 percent in 2014.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "Jeff Bezos’s Rivals Are Teaming Up to Take on Amazon," 23 Aug. 2017
The Soviet military conducted six tests of the R-36, each at the exact time of day when the missiles were illuminated but the recording cameras were in shadow.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Secret Soviet Space Weapon Mistaken for a UFO," 23 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of conduct

see ¹conduct

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

conduct Synonyms

Synonyms

administer, administrate, carry on, control, direct, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend, watch over

Antonyms

follow, trail

Related Words

care (for), mind, watch; lead, pilot, steer; guard, protect, safeguard; micromanage, stage-manage; codirect, comanage

Near Antonyms

act up, carry on, cut up, misbehave, misconduct

Synonym Discussion of conduct

conduct, manage, control, direct mean to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate. conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group.

- conducted negotiations

manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result.

- manages a meat market

control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course.

- controlling his appetite

direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation.

- directs the store's day-to-day business

synonyms see in addition behave

CONDUCT Defined for English Language Learners

conduct

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noun

Definition of conduct for English Language Learners

: the way that a person behaves in a particular place or situation
: the way that something is managed or directed

conduct

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verb

Definition of conduct for English Language Learners

: to plan and do (something, such as an activity)
: to direct the performance of (musicians or singers)
: to guide or lead (someone) through or around a place

CONDUCT Defined for Kids

conduct

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verb con·duct \ kən-ˈdəkt \

Definition of conduct for Students

conducted; conducting

1 :to plan and put into operation from a position of command :lead

conduct a business

2 :²guide 1

3 :behave 1

She conducted herself with courtesy.

4 :to direct the performance of (musicians or singers)

5 :to have the quality of transmitting light, heat, sound, or electricity

Synonym Discussion of conduct

conduct, direct, and manage mean to provide the leadership or guidance for something. conduct means leading something in person.

- I will conduct the meeting.

direct is used for guiding something that needs constant attention.

- Our mayor directed the building of a new school.

manage means the handling of the small items of something (as a business) or the careful guiding of something to a goal.

- He's managing the president's reelection campaign.

conduct

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noun con·duct \ ˈkän-ˌdəkt \

Definition of conduct for Students

1 :personal behavior

2 :the act or way of managing something

the conduct of foreign trade

Medical Dictionary

conduct

transitive verb con·duct \ kən-ˈdəkt also ˈkän-ˌdəkt \

medical Definition of conduct

:to act as a medium for conveying

intransitive verb

:to have the quality of transmitting something (as light, heat, sound, or electricity)

Law Dictionary

conduct

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noun con·duct \ ˈkän-ˌdəkt \

legal Definition of conduct

1 a :the act, manner, or process of carrying on or managing

his conduct of the case was negligent

b :an act or omission to act

a crime is that conduct which is defined as criminal
—Louisiana Revised Statutes

2 :mode or standard of personal behavior

Learn More about conduct

See words that rhyme with conduct Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for conduct Spanish Central: Translation of conduct Nglish: Translation of conduct for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of conduct for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conduct

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conduct

Definition of conduct

conductibility

conductible

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CONDUCT Defined for English Language Learners

conduct

Definition of conduct for English Language Learners

conduct

Definition of conduct for English Language Learners

CONDUCT Defined for Kids

conduct

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Synonym Discussion of conduct

conduct

Definition of conduct for Students

Medical Dictionary

conduct

medical Definition of conduct

Law Dictionary

conduct

legal Definition of conduct

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