Electrical means relating to or operated by electricity, the invisible force that powers lights, computers, refrigerators, and countless other devices we use every day.

An electrical outlet in your wall provides electricity to charge your devices. An electrical engineer designs systems that generate, distribute, or use electricity safely. Electrical wiring runs through the walls of buildings, carrying power from room to room like invisible rivers of energy.

The word describes things that use electricity (electrical appliances), produce it (electrical generators), or involve understanding it (electrical systems). When something goes wrong with the power in a building, you might call an electrician to fix the electrical problem.

Notice that electrical is slightly different from electric. We usually say electrical for systems, fields of study, or general concepts (electrical engineering, electrical safety), while electric often describes specific powered devices (electric toothbrush, electric car) or the thrilling feeling of excitement. An electrical storm and an electric storm mean the same thing, though the second phrase can also suggest the storm's dramatic energy.

Understanding electrical systems changed human civilization. Before electricity became widely available in homes around 1900, people relied on candles, oil lamps, and fire for light and heat. Today, electrical power runs hospitals, schools, communication networks, and nearly everything else in modern life.