Definition of CONDUIT (original) (raw)
1
: a natural or artificial channel through which something (such as a fluid) is conveyed
2
: a pipe, tube, or tile for protecting electric wires or cables
3
: a means of transmitting or distributing
a conduit for illicit payments
Synonyms
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 There are electric conduits running up stairwells and racks of cables hanging from ceilings. —
Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 There was no cash compensation or bonus; his atta boy was Bluetooth hardware as a conduit for our partner to blast U2 on an airplane. —Damon Stafford, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024 The flammable material can act like a conduit for fire, carrying the flames directly to a house from neighboring homes. —Lauren Sommer, NPR, 17 Sep. 2024 What every film on this list has in common is that their horrors are more than just boogeymen and spirits projected upon a silver screen, but a conduit into which deeper real-life fears are made manifest. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for conduit 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conduit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of conduit was in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near conduit
Cite this Entry
“Conduit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conduit. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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Last Updated: 30 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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