electrode

noun

elec·​trode i-ˈlek-ˌtrōd 

1

: a conductor used to establish electrical contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit

2

: an element in a semiconductor device (such as a transistor) that emits or collects electrons or holes or controls their movements

Examples of electrode in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Polymer binders are used in the negative electrode (anode) of lithium-ion batteries. —Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Feb. 2026

Those tests involve placing small electrodes on the scalp to record electrical activity in the brain. —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 15 Jan. 2026

Electrolytic cell parts Physical components of electrolysis systems, from electrodes to diaphragms, representing the hardware backbone of green energy systems. —John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 13 Jan. 2026

There's also a special pair of eyeglasses with lenses that are coated with see-through sensors called substrate electrodes (made of a material called ITO). —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing electrode

• inter-electrode

Rhymes for electrode

• interelectrode

Kids Definition

electrode

noun

elec·​trode i-ˈlek-ˌtrōd 

: a conductor (as a metal or carbon) used to make electrical contact with a part of an electrical circuit that is not metallic

Medical Definition

electrode

noun

elec·​trode i-ˈlek-ˌtrōd 

: a conductor used to establish electrical contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit