What does "voltage" mean?
The difference in electrostatic potential between two points in space, especially between live and neutral conductors or the earth.
Voltage
/ˈvoʊltɪd͡ʒ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The difference in electrostatic potential between two points in space, especially between live and neutral conductors or the earth.
- Grammar: voltage is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: potential difference, electric potential, electric potential difference, electrical potential difference.
- Useful contrasts: zero potential difference, zero voltage.
- Usage evidence: This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
How to use "voltage"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "voltage" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "voltage" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "voltage" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "voltage" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "voltage" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "potential difference" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "voltage", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The difference in electrostatic potential between two points in space, especially between live and neutral conductors or the earth. countable, uncountable
"The voltage between the wires is too low to produce a spark."
- 2 the difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts wordnet
- 3 the rate at which energy is drawn from a source that produces a flow of electricity in a circuit; expressed in volts wordnet
Synonyms
All synonyms potential differenceelectric potentialelectric potential differenceelectrical potential differenceelectromotive forceemf
Antonyms
zero potential differencezero voltage
Example
"This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "voltage"?
Common synonyms include: potential difference, electric potential, electric potential difference, electrical potential difference, electromotive force, emf.
How do you use "voltage" in a sentence?
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
How do you pronounce "voltage"?
Pronounced /ˈvoʊltɪd͡ʒ/.
Etymology
From volt + -age, ultimately derived from the name of Alessandro Volta, inventor of the modern battery.