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

Examples of conduit in a Sentence

the major conduit for carrying water to the military base

water flowed along the conduit to the fountain

Recent Examples on the Web

Moreover, Hong Kong's development advantages as a crucial node in China's Belt and Road Initiative have further solidified its position as an indispensable conduit between the Middle East and the world's second-largest economy. —Familyofficehk Contributor, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024

The group has avoided becoming a conduit for content takedowns during other wars, and several employees considered the involvement in the Gaza crisis as siding with Israel, two people with direct knowledge of the concerns say. —Paresh Dave, WIRED, 30 Sep. 2024

Electrify America has also seen copper wiring mined from its charging units, and from underground conduits. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2024

Her research suggests that activities such as uranium mining near the Grand Canyon are too dangerous since adjacent fault structures forming vertical conduits could rapidly transport water underground, finding its way down to the Redwall-Muav Aquifer. —Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2024

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