electric

adjective elec·tric \ i-ˈlek-trik , ē- \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Examples: electric in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of electric

1 or electrical play \i-ˈlek-tri-kəl, ē-\ : of, relating to, or operated by electricity

an electric current

an electric heater

2 : exciting as if by electric shock

an electric performance

an electric personality

; also : charged with strong emotion

the room was electric with tension

3 a : electronic 3a

b : amplifying sound by electronic means —used of a musical instrument

an electric guitar

4 : very bright

electric blue

electric orange

—

electrically

play \i-ˈlek-tri-k(ə-)lē, ē-\ adverb

See electric defined for English-language learners

See electric defined for kids

Examples of electric in a Sentence

The device administers a mild electric shock.
It plugs into any electric socket.
The electrical cord is damaged.
There's a problem with the building's electrical wiring.
The pianist gave an electric performance.
The atmosphere in the room was electric.

Recent Examples of electric from the Web

The Chicago Express Loop, which will take passengers from downtown Chicago to the airport in just 12 minutes using electric vehicles that run through new twin underground tunnels, will be funded by the Boring Company, with no taxpayer subsidy.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "Is Elon Musk Scamming Chicago?," 14 June 2018
For months, the county had failed to pay its electric bill.

— kelsey ryan, kansascity, "Record tampering, retaliation, $600 coffeepots. What's going on in Clay Co. government?," 11 June 2018
In contrast, the Reds, which have a separate lease with Hamilton County, pay their own electric bills at Great American Ball Park.

— dave clark, Cincinnati.com, "Looking back at Cincinnati Bengals' history with taxpayers," 8 June 2018
Plattsburgh in upstate New York banned Bitcoin mining earlier this year, after a surge in hydro energy usage drove up residents’ electric bills.

— david meyer, Fortune, "Cryptocurrency Miners Are Using So Much Energy That Quebec's Government Had to Crack Down," 8 June 2018
According to Entergy figures, each degree a thermostat is set below 78 degrees will add about 3 percent to a customer's electric bill.

— greg larose, NOLA.com, "Entergy warns customers with tips to avoid high bills in hot weather," 5 June 2018
Before installing the system on his San Anselmo home in December, his electric bill was averaging $240 per month.

— kathleen pender, San Francisco Chronicle, "Solar mandate could change how California homes are built," 1 June 2018
Emily Hopkins Indianapolis Power & Light's recent request to hike electric bills by as much as $10 to $20 per month prompted nearly 2,700 comments from not-so-thrilled consumers.

— sarah bowman, Indianapolis Star, "IPL customers fearing a $10 to $20 rate increase may be in luck, state agency says: 'Deny it'," 30 May 2018
Instead of cranking up your air conditioner and finding yourself with an astronomical electric bill, here’s another solution: Get a pair of breathable but still very pretty pajamas.

— indya brown, The Cut, "14 Delightful Pajamas for Hot Summer Nights," 24 May 2018

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

Did You Know?

The word electric is derived from the Greek word for amber, elektron. It is only in modern times that practical use has been made of electricity, but some electrical phenomena have been known since antiquity. Certain philosophers of ancient Greece found that by rubbing amber with a piece of cloth, they could enable the amber to pick up light objects, such as feathers. In the 17th century, students of natural science began to discover that other natural phenomena were related to the effect of friction on amber.

Origin and Etymology of electric

New Latin electricus produced from amber by friction, electric, from Medieval Latin, of amber, from Latin electrum amber, electrum, from Greek ēlektron; akin to Greek ēlektōr beaming sun

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1722

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

electric Synonyms

Other Electrical Engineering Terms

feedback, fuse, incandescent, noise, resonance

electric

noun

Definition of electric

1 archaic : a nonconductor of electricity used to excite or accumulate electricity

2 : something (such as a light, automobile, or train) operated by electricity

Recent Examples of electric from the Web

Now, the 2,348-square-foot home boasts new plumbing, electric and HVAC systems as well as new windows, refinished hardwood floors, and updated baths.

— shannon rooney, Philly.com, "On the Market: An updated Mt. Airy twin for $499,900," 14 June 2018
Last month, Zunum let CBS News see the first round of tests on the electric and power system that will eventually propel the aircraft.

— CBS News, "Electric airplanes could be just over the horizon," 9 June 2018
The quandary for Bellerin will be to reel in his electric dashed down the United left, keeping Sanchez as his bedfellow for the majority of the 90 minutes at Old Trafford.

— SI.com, "Manchester United vs Arsenal Preview: Classic Encounter, Key Battle, Team News & More," 28 Apr. 2018
The ruling Communist Party has transformed China into the biggest market for electrics with billions of dollars in subsidies to producers and buyers.

— joe mcdonald, The Seattle Times, "China auto show highlights industry’s electric ambitions," 22 Apr. 2018
Photo: Uber Uber’s plan to fill the skies above cities with swarms of electric-powered flying taxis is getting its own dedicated laboratory.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "Uber to open Advanced Technologies Center in Paris focused on flying taxis," 24 May 2018
Then the whir of the electric train cut through the air and a flawless right-hander formed and ran for two-fifths of a mile through a variety of sections, alternating and changing pace from a thin-lipped tube to open face.

— alex wilson, Outside Online, "Kelly Slater's Wave Pool Is the Future. And It's Bleak.," 7 May 2018
This set is an electric affair for Touré, who normally plays acoustically and with more-traditional West African instruments like the forefather of the banjo, the kora.

— paul de revere, Billboard, "Strong Debuts From Leslie Odom Jr., GIVERS and More Kick Off Jazz Fest 2018," 28 Apr. 2018
The concept is all-electric, and seats four people plus a pilot, in single file in a slim, cylindrical body with large windows.

— alex davies, WIRED, "Uber Unveils the Flying Taxi It Wants to Rule the Skies," 8 May 2018

First Known Use of electric

1646

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Electrical Engineering Terms

feedback, fuse, incandescent, noise, resonance

ELECTRIC Defined for English Language Learners

electric

adjective

Definition of electric for English Language Learners

: of or relating to electricity
: operated by electricity
: providing electricity

ELECTRIC Defined for Kids

electric

adjective elec·tric \ i-ˈlek-trik \

Definition of electric for Students

1 or electrical\-tri-kəl\ : of or relating to electricity or its use

an electric current

electrical engineering

2 : heated, moved, made, or run by electricity

an electric heater

an electric locomotive

3 : giving off sounds through an electronic amplifier

an electric guitar

4 : having a thrilling effect

The singer gave an electric performance.

—

electrically

adverb

electrically powered cars

History for electric

People in ancient Greece found that if they rubbed a piece of amber it would attract light things like straws and feathers. The rubbing gave the amber an electric charge. We owe the English word electric to this property of amber. Our word came from a Greek word ēlektron that meant “amber.”