conduit

American  

[kon-dwit, -doo-it, -dyoo-it, -dit] / ˈkɒn dwɪt, -du ɪt, -dyu ɪt, -dɪt /

noun

1. a pipe, tube, or the like, for conveying water or other fluid.

   Synonyms:

   channel, main, duct

2. a similar natural passage.

3. any means of transmission or conveyance, as of information.

   According to rumor, he served as a conduit for Israeli intelligence.

4. Electricity. a structure containing one or more ducts.

5. Archaic. a fountain.

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conduit British  

/ ˈkɒndɪt, -djʊɪt /

noun

1. a pipe or channel for carrying a fluid

2. a rigid tube or duct for carrying and protecting electrical wires or cables

3. an agency or means of access, communication, etc

4. botany a water-transporting element in a plant; a xylem vessel or a tracheid

5. a rare word for fountain

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Etymology

Origin of conduit

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English conduit, condut, condewit, condit, from Old French conduit, from Medieval Latin conductus “pipe channel”; conduce, duct

Example Sentences

It is the main conduit for oil and other energy products like liquefied natural gas as they flow between much of the Persian Gulf and Asia, Africa and beyond.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 1, 2026

“We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

Iranian politicians have repeatedly threatened to block the strait, a major global conduit for oil and gas.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

The silk fibres are implanted into a vein or hollow conduit to repair a nerve and eventually degrade into the body.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

Muhammad became the conduit for these messages, and The Qur’an, then, was simply the word of God in written form.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

Related Words

• duct
• pipe
• pipeline