hydroelectric

adjective

hy·​dro·​elec·​tric ˌhī-drō-i-ˈlek-trik 

: of or relating to production of electricity by waterpower

constructed a hydroelectric power plant at the dam site

hydroelectrically

ˌhī-drō-i-ˈlek-tri-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

hydroelectricity

ˌhī-drō-i-ˌlek-ˈtri-sə-tē 

-ˈtri-stē

noun

Did you know?

The prime component of most hydroelectric systems is a dam. A high dam funnels water downward at high pressure to spin turbines, which in turn drive generators to produce high-voltage electricity. Mountainous countries with rushing rivers can produce the most hydroelectricity. Though hydroelectricity comes from a clean and completely renewable energy source, dams disrupt natural systems in a way that disturbs environmentalists.

Examples of hydroelectric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His designs were instrumental in constructing the first large-scale hydroelectric power station at Niagara Falls, which began operating in 1895. —Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

The dam is expected to cost $137 billion and generate 300 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually—about three times the output of China’s Three Gorges Dam, currently the world’s largest hydroelectric power station by generating capacity. —Byscience News Staff, science.org, 9 Jan. 2025

For a sense of scale, the largest hydroelectric power plant in the US is the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington. —Joe Salas, New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2025

But Mexico has extraordinary potential for clean energy across wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power and now has the political will to harness it. —Umair Irfan, Vox, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hydroelectric

adjective

hy·​dro·​elec·​tric ˌhī-drō-i-ˈlek-trik 

: of or relating to production of electricity by waterpower

hydroelectricity

-ˌlek-ˈtris-ət-ē 

-ˈtris-tē

noun