What does electricity mean?
Electricity is a fundamental form of energy arising from the presence and movement of electrically charged particles, most familiarly electrons. In its static form it appears as accumulated charge — the crackle of static on clothing or a lightning bolt — while in its dynamic form it flows as a current through wires and circuits, powering everything from household lamps to industrial machinery. In everyday speech, the word also refers to the commercial supply of this energy, as when people speak of an electricity bill or a blackout that cuts off the electricity. The term derives from the Greek word 'elektron', meaning amber, whose attractive properties when rubbed were known to the ancients. Uncountable and universal in modern life, 'electricity' carries no strong connotations of its own but is inseparable from notions of modernity, convenience, and infrastructure.
nounA form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles such as electrons or protons, either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current; the supply or use of this energy, especially as a public utility for lighting, heating, and powering devices.
- The physical phenomenon: a form of energy associated with the motion or presence of electric charge.
- The commercial supply of electrical power to homes and businesses.
"The whole neighbourhood lost electricity during the storm."
"Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment demonstrated that lightning is a form of electricity."
"Electricity prices rose sharply over the winter."
The word 'electricity' comes from the Greek 'elektron' meaning amber — because ancient Greeks discovered that rubbing amber made it attract light objects.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of electricity
The word 'electricity' was coined in English in the early 17th century by Thomas Browne, building on the New Latin 'electricus', which itself derived from the Greek 'elektron' meaning amber. Ancient Greeks had observed that rubbed amber attracted light objects, and this property became the namesake of the entire phenomenon. Related words sharing the same root include 'electric', 'electron', and 'electrify'.
How electricity is actually used
In everyday British and American usage, 'electricity' commonly refers to the utility supply ('the electricity went off'), while in physics it denotes the broader phenomenon of electric charge and its effects. It is an uncountable noun and takes no plural.
Easily confused with electricity
'Electric' is an adjective describing something powered by or producing electricity (an electric car), while 'electricity' is the noun naming the energy itself.