voltage

noun

volt·​age ˈvōl-tij 

1

: electric potential or potential difference expressed in volts

2

: intensity of feeling

Examples of voltage in a Sentence

We measured the change in voltage across the circuit.

Recent Examples on the Web

Electrical substations handle enormous voltage in residential neighborhoods. —Tom Von Essen, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026

Because servers can’t tolerate more than minor deviations, UPS electronics also clean up low-quality power, such as voltage spikes or sags and frequency deviation. —IEEE Spectrum, 29 Apr. 2026

LeClair explains that power surges damage appliances and electronic devices by overwhelming their internal electrical components with more voltage than they are designed to handle. —Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026

Then, in the next neuron, a dendritic plateau potential causes a widespread voltage change that spreads across the entire dendrite. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing voltage

• high-voltage
• voltage divider

Rhymes for voltage

• overvoltage

Kids Definition

voltage

noun

volt·​age ˈvōl-tij 

: potential difference measured in volts

Medical Definition

voltage

noun

volt·​age ˈvōl-tij 

: electrical potential or potential difference expressed in volts