resistivity

R1E1S1I1S1T1I1V4I1T1Y4

noun

The resistance offered at a particular temperature by an electrical conductor of any given material in a cube of unit length, expressed in ohm-metres (Ωm) in the metric system of measurement.

Similar
electric resistanceelectrical resistanceimpedanceresistanceohmic resistance
OriginEnglish resistive ← Middle English resisten ← Anglo-Norman resister →
Less commonScrabble 17
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Meanings

nounresistivity (countable and uncountable, plural resistivities)

plural resistivities

  1. countableuncountablebusinessThe resistance offered at a particular temperature by an electrical conductor of any given material in a cube of unit length, expressed in ohm-metres (Ωm) in the metric system of measurement.
  2. countableuncountablenatural sciencesThe reciprocal of thermal conductivity, having SI unit: m K W⁻¹

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna material's opposition to the flow of electric current; measured in ohms

Similar
electric resistanceelectrical resistanceimpedanceresistanceohmic resistance
Broader
electrical phenomenon
Also see
electrical resistanceimpedanceohmic resistanceresistance

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Italic*wre-
  2. Latinre-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*stísteh₂ti
  5. Proto-Italic*sistō
  6. Latinsistō
  7. Latinresistere
  8. Anglo-Normanresister
  9. Middle Englishresisten
  10. Englishresist
  11. Englishresistive
  12. Englishresistivity

From resistive + -ity.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian специфично съпротивление
  • специфично съпротивление (specifično săprotivlenie)capacity of resistance to electricity
Danish resistivitet
  • resistivitetcapacity of resistance to electricity
Finnish ominaisvastus, resistiivisyys
  • ominaisvastuscapacity of resistance to electricity
  • resistiivisyyscapacity of resistance to electricity
French résistivité
  • résistivitécapacity of resistance to electricity
German spezifischer Widerstand
  • spezifischer Widerstandcapacity of resistance to electricity
Italian resistività
  • resistivitàcapacity of resistance to electricity
Polish rezystywność
  • rezystywnośćcapacity of resistance to electricity
Russian удельное электрическое сопротивление
  • удельное электрическое сопротивление (udelʹnoje električeskoje soprotivlenije)capacity of resistance to electricity
Spanish resistividad
  • resistividadcapacity of resistance to electricity
Tagalog kasagwilan
  • kasagwilancapacity of resistance to electricity
Cite this entry
APA

resistivity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/resistivity

MLA

“resistivity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/resistivity. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “resistivity,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/resistivity.

Source: resistivity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.