Origin: French suffix -age
Voltage has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
the rate at which energy is drawn from a source that produces a flow of electricity in a circuit; expressed in volts
"The technician adjusted the voltage to ensure the motor received enough power without overheating."
the difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts
"The multimeter showed that the voltage dropped significantly across the resistor, indicating too much resistance was blocking the current flow."
The difference in electrostatic potential between two points in space, especially between live and neutral conductors or the earth.
"The multimeter beeped loudly as I accidentally touched both probes to the exposed wires while checking the voltage on the faulty outlet."
In plain English: Voltage is the electrical pressure that pushes electricity through a wire.
"The voltage in this old battery is too low to turn on the flashlight."
Usage: Voltage measures the electrical pressure that pushes current through a circuit, distinguishing it from amperage which quantifies the flow rate of electrons. Always use voltage when referring to the specific level of energy available at an outlet or battery rather than the amount of electricity being consumed.
The word voltage combines the suffix "-age" with the name of Italian physicist Alessandro Volta. It was named after him because he invented the first modern battery.