Nonconductor: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in technical or scientific contexts to describe a material that does not conduct electricity, heat, or sound.

• Glass is a nonconductor of electricity, making it useful for insulating electrical wires.
• The device is built from nonconductors to ensure safety.

Commonly used in everyday language as well as technical contexts to describe materials that prevent the passage of electricity, heat, or sound.

• Wood is often used as an insulator in building construction.
• Rubber gloves serve as effective insulators when working with electrical equipment.

Primarily used in physics and electrical engineering to refer to materials that do not conduct electricity but can support an electrostatic field.

• A dielectric material is essential in capacitors.
• The dielectric properties of the material were tested in the lab.

Used in scientific and technical contexts where the focus is on a material's inability to conduct electricity.

• Glass is a common nonconductor used in various electrical applications

Frequently used in household and general settings to describe materials that prevent the transfer of electricity or heat.

• Rubber gloves act as insulators to protect electricians from electric shocks

Applied in situations where the primary concern is a material's resistance to high temperatures, often in construction, engineering, or cooking.

• Asbestos was traditionally used as a heat-resistant material in building insulation