semiconductor

noun

semi·​con·​duc·​tor ˌse-mē-kən-ˈdək-tər 

ˌse-ˌmī-, 

-mi-

: any of a class of solids (such as germanium or silicon) whose electrical conductivity is between that of a conductor and that of an insulator in being nearly as great as that of a metal at high temperatures and nearly absent at low temperatures

Did you know?

A semiconductor is a crystal material whose ability to conduct electricity rises as its temperature goes up. That is, it sometimes acts as a conductor and sometimes as an insulator. Its conducting ability can be much increased by chemical treatment. A manufactured chip of silicon, less than half an inch square, may contain millions of microscopic transistors, which can serve control and memory functions when installed in a computer, automobile, cell phone, DVD player, or microwave oven.

Examples of semiconductor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Consumer spending picked up despite inflation and business investment driven by the AI buildout remained strong, but that AI boom cut against overall growth, as the country imported more semiconductors. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 30 July 2026

High-purity alumina remains a strategically important material because manufacturers use it in semiconductors, specialty ceramics, lithium-ion battery separators and several defense applications. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026

Lam Research — Shares of semiconductor equipment manufacturer climbed nearly 9% on the back of better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 30 July 2026

Kumamoto and other parts of the Kyushu region have increasingly become key production sites for automobiles and semiconductors, raising concerns over a possible hit to the economy. — USA Today, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for semiconductor

• superconductor
• abductor
• adductor
• conductor
• constructor
• destructor
• inductor
• instructor
• mukhtar

Kids Definition

semiconductor

noun

semi·​con·​duc·​tor ˌsem-i-kən-ˈdək-tər 

ˌsem-ˌī-

: any of a class of solids (as germanium) that have an ability to conduct electricity between that of a conductor and that of an insulator

semiconducting

-tiŋ

adjective

Medical Definition

semiconductor

noun

semi·​con·​duc·​tor -kən-ˈdək-tər 

: any of a class of solids (as germanium or silicon) whose electrical conductivity is between that of a conductor and that of an insulator in being nearly as great as that of a metal at high temperatures and nearly absent at low temperatures