conduit

noun

con·​duit ˈkän-ˌdü-ət 

-ˌdyü-,

 also  -dwət,

-dət

1

: a natural or artificial channel through which something (such as a fluid) is conveyed

a conduit for rainwater

2

: a pipe, tube, or tile for protecting electric wires or cables

3

: a means of transmitting or distributing

a conduit for illicit payments

a conduit of information

4

archaic : fountain

Synonyms

• channel
• duct
• leader
• line
• penstock
• pipe
• trough
• tube

Example Sentences

the major conduit for carrying water to the military base

water flowed along the conduit to the fountain

Recent Examples on the Web

The public charging stations could be a conduit for bad actors to introduce malware onto personal devices, officials warn. —Luke Barr, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2023

Castro believes his role is to act as a conduit between the city and its immigrant communities, which are often wary of the government. —Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2023

As an art form in which human beings are incarnated, drama is a natural conduit for metaphysics and ontology. —Charles Mcnulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2023

When the conduit deal was first due to be considered Feb. 15, two members took the unusual step of sitting out the meeting. —Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2023

The project will also involve earthwork/grading, pouring concrete, adding conduit for future lighting, and plans for additional stormwater drainage. —cleveland, 31 Jan. 2023

But Torres has embraced the promise of crypto and blockchains, hailing them as a conduit for financial inclusion and a tool for dispersing the concentrated power of money. —Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2023

Social-media platforms are largely a conduit for others’ unaltered speech, while Ms. Smith creates her own independent expression. —Christopher Mills, WSJ, 4 Dec. 2022

Enlarge / Spools of fiber conduits for broadband network construction. —Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 2 May 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conduyt, condyt, cundyte "channel or pipe for conveying water, act of escorting for protection" borrowed from Anglo-French conduit, condet "channel for water, guide, escort party," (also continental Old French), noun derivative from conduit, past participle of conduire "to guide, escort," going back to Latin condūcere "to bring together, join, hire, accept a contract for" (Medieval Latin also "to lead, escort, provide a channel for [water]") — more at conduce

Note: The senses of the vernacular word conduit parallel those of Medieval Latin conductus, conductum—see conduct entry 2. The verb conduct entry 1 and the nouns conduct entry 2 and conductor all had vernacular counterparts in Middle English and early Modern English—conduiten, conduit and conduytour—taken from Anglo-French. Of these only conduit has survived in Modern English, and with the restricted sense "channel for water."

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

conduit

noun

con·​duit ˈkän-ˌd(y)ü-ət 

 also  -d(w)ət

1

: a channel through which water or other fluid is carried

2

: a pipe, tube, or tile for protecting electric wires or cables