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

Architect Renzo Piano contributes a foreword, as does conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, who worked closely with Frank Gehry on the design of Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles. — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

When the team was restarting the power plant, a power cable feeding the refrigerant pump also failed when an imperfection in the cable casing allowed seawater to seep in and short two of the electrical conductors. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Petrenko became chief conductor for the 2019-20 season, following Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado and Simon Rattle. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Mandell described Beckett as a conductor rather than a director. — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

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
• adductor
• constructor
• destructor
• inductor
• instructor
• mukhtar
• 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