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

Developing this economic conduit is a key objective for the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing’s vast overseas infrastructure investment program. —Ye Myo Hein, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2025

Archaeologists began excavating and reconstructing the palace complex in the mid-1970s, including the original stone embankments, water conduit and drainage channel. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025

In fact, the show served as the perfect conduit for the actress and her director husband, Pete Chatmon, as the two met on set. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025

This was a textbook example of how an organization can become a conduit. —Ziv Biron, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

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